GACC: China's 2025 copper conc imports hit record high

China's imports of copper-related products staged a clear split in 2025, characterized by a rise in imports of copper ore and concentrate contrasted with a decline in imports of unwrought copper and copper semi-finished products, according to new data released by the General Administration of Customs (GACC) on January 14.

The country imported 30.31 million tonnes of copper ore and concentrate last year, marking a 7.9% increase from 2024 and hitting a historical high, the GACC numbers show. The momentum accelerated towards year-end, with December imports reaching 2.7 million tonnes, up 7% month-on-month. This surge is fundamentally driven by the