Chinese copper imports rose by 119pc to 821,377mt in H1 from 430,618mt the prior-year period. China imported 150,448mt in June 2021 up from 68,745mt in June 2020.
Chinese imports from Malaysia grew by 73pc to 12,879mt in the last month from June 2020. Imports from Japan grew by 108pc to 20,716mt in June from the prior-year period.
China imported 19,913mt of copper from the US up by 145pc from June 2020.
Considering the rise in prices in China, Chinese manufacturers preferred to import copper in H1, 2021. Taking a note of raised input cost, recently National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) released 20,000mt of copper, 50,000mt of aluminium and 30,000mt of zinc. On Monday NDRC has announced that it would continue to release the metal inventories from state reserves to lower prices.
NDRC released the first batch with sales prices 3-9pc lower than the market price. NDRC has warned that it will keep an eye on future and spot markets and will act in case of irregularities such as hoarding.