Metal Information Center

Copper moving out

November 5, 2007 – 5:25 am

U.S. exports of copper scrap increased to a record 589,000 metric tons in 2003, a 35 percent increase over the 511,000 metric tons shipped in 2002, according to the data from the U.S. International Trade Commission.

Chinatook in a staggering 70 percent (approximately), or 482,000 metric tons, of the total. Including re-exports, or scrap that was brought into the U.S., converted in the production process, then sent back out, about 79 percent, or 545,723 metric tons, went to China, according to the Commission figures.

While 1995 exports were higher in dollar terms, copper scrap exports surpassed the previous record hit in 1995 if measured by weight.

Exports were sharply higher in all subcategories of copper scrap in 2003. Refined copper scrap exports grew by 48 percent to 316,000 metric tons, copper/zinc base alloy scrap was 41 percent higher at 78,000 metric tons, brass scrap increased by 32 percent to 48,000 metric tons, and other copper alloy was up 20 percent at 247,000 metric tons in 2003 over 2002.

The only other nations receiving even 35,000 metric tons of copper scrap from the U.S. were India, South Korea and Canada. The amount of copper scrap received by those countries was much closer to the 2002 total, differing from the massive growth in Chinese imports.