In the first half (H1) of 2026, China's copper foil industry maintained strong growth momentum, driven by robust demand from the new energy, Artificial Intelligence (AI) computing power, and consumer electronics sectors. In terms of trade, imports continued to grow steadily, while exports expanded significantly, leading to a further narrowing of the overall net imports.
China's copper foil imports totaled 45,100 tonnes in H1 2026, rising by 12.3% year on year.
Data Source: GACC, Mysteel
In terms of import origins, China's copper foil imports remained highly concentrated, with East Asia continuing to dominate supply. Taiwan, China was the largest import source, accounting for 59% of total imports in H1. Indonesia and Malaysia were also key suppliers, with a combined share of 22%. Meanwhile, Japan and South Korea remained major suppliers of high-end HVLP copper foil.
Data Source: GACC, Mysteel
Demand from high-end sectors such as AI and data centers continued to drive growth in imports of high-end copper foil products. The trend toward product upgrading is becoming increasingly evident, with significant potential remaining for China's domestic substitution of high-end electronic copper foils, including RTF and HVLP.
Exports of copper foil from China surged by 72.8% in H1 2026, reaching 39,700 tonnes, with the growth rate far exceeding the average 21.2% in 2025.
Data Source: GACC, Mysteel
Thailand was the largest export destination for China's copper foil in the first half of the year, with exports reaching 9,500 tonnes and accounting for 26% of total exports. South Korea and Malaysia were also major destinations, accounting for 11.8% and 10.4%, respectively. This export structure continued the trend seen in 2025, when Southeast Asia became China's largest copper foil export destination, accounting for 41.5% of total exports. The trend highlights the strengthening competitiveness of China's copper foil products in Asian and neighboring markets.
Data Source: GACC, Mysteel
Driven by strong global demand for lithium-ion batteries, domestic technological advancements and capacity expansion, as well as supply shortages in overseas markets, China's copper foil exports increased significantly in H1 2026. Meanwhile, Japanese-funded and Taiwan-based enterprises accelerated the shift of HTE capacity toward high-end copper foils such as HVLP, tightening overseas supply of conventional copper foil products and creating sustained opportunities for Chinese producers to expand exports.
In the first half of 2026, China's copper foil net imports continued to narrow, with export growth significantly outpacing import growth. The overall trend of strong export expansion and steady import growth remained unchanged. Data showed that China's net copper foil imports totaled 5,789 tonnes in H1 2026, down significantly from 17,410 tonnes in the same period of 2025. The continued narrowing of the net imports highlights the notable improvement in the international competitiveness and global market recognition of China's copper foil industry. Looking ahead to the second half of 2026, the industry's growth momentum is expected to continue, with robust export growth and further net imports reduction likely to persist.
Written by Mingyuan Wang, wangmingyuan@mysteel.com
