Chinas Copper Industry
As one of the worlds oldest metals, copper has played an important role in human history for many centuries. In China, copper has been used for various purposes for thousands of years, from currency to decoration. By now, the copper industry inChinais a well-developed and mature sector.
Due to its large population, abundant resources and manpower,Chinais now the world’s largest copper producer and consumer. In 2018, the total copper output ofChinaaccounted for approximately 50 percent of global copper production.
In the copper industry of China, copper is mainly obtained by mining. China has several large copper mines and the major ones include Mianning-Meishan Copper Mine, Jinchuan Copper Mine and Jilin Copper Mine. Currently, the extracting technology of copper ore inChinais advanced and 75-80 percent of copper output is achieved by open-pit mining method.
Given the copper demand of global market, the Chinese copper industry has witnessed an extraordinary development these years. Many copper companies inChinawith advanced mining technology, well-organized management system and strong financial strength, have taken advantage of the growing global demand for copper to develop their production and sales business. According to statistics, these companies who invest in the overseas copper industry account for about 5 percent of the total number of the worlds copper enterprises.
Additionally, driven by increasingly stringent environmental protection regulations and stricter safety requirements, the Chinese copper industry has been undergoing a structural adjustment and upgrading, which is aiming to optimize the industry structure, reduce emissions and enhance technological process. Advanced technology has been widely adopted by the Chinese copper industry. For example, several Chinese enterprises such as Jiangxi Copper Corporation and Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group have introduced and developed a cumulative recovery of selenium process, which reduces the production cost and achieve eco-friendly output.
At present, the Chinese copper industry has already become a powerful global competitor and is continuously playing a major role in the world’s copper industry. The expert from the International Copper Study Group (ICSG) believes that Chinesecopper market is set to maintain its leading role in the near future. It’s expected that the copper demand inChinawill remain high and the copper industry inChinawill witness a steady development in the coming years.