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This table presents detailed data on the quantities and values of unmanufactured copper imports into the United States, categorized by type—such as ore and concentrates, matte, blister and anodes, refined copper, and unalloyed copper scrap—and by country or locality of origin. This information is crucial for understanding the supply chain dynamics of copper, a metal vital to various industries including electrical, construction, and manufacturing. Tracking these imports helps assess the U.S. market’s dependence on foreign sources, informs trade policy decisions, and provides insights into global copper production and trade patterns that impact economic and industrial planning.
In 2021, the total U.S. imports of unmanufactured copper amounted to 970,000 metric tons valued at $8.82 billion, showing a notable increase from 2020’s revised total of 707,000 metric tons valued at $4.24 billion. The largest contributor was Chile, supplying 613,000 metric tons of refined copper valued at $5.7 billion, underscoring its dominant role as a copper exporter to the U.S. Canada followed as a significant supplier with 173,000 metric tons valued at $1.49 billion, mainly in ore and concentrates and refined copper. Other notable sources included Peru and Zambia, which provided 28,500 and 11,400 metric tons of refined copper respectively, valued at $264 million and $113 million. The data also reflect a diversified import base with smaller contributions from countries like Mexico, Bolivia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The sharp increase in total imports and value from 2020 to 2021 highlights a recovery in demand and supply chain adjustments following the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
| TABLE 16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF UNMANUFACTURED COPPER (COPPER CONTENT), BY COUNTRY OR LOCALITY1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ore and concentrates2 | Matte, ash, and precipitates3 | Blister and anodes4 | Refined5 | Unalloyed copper scrap6 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Quantity | Value7 | Quantity | Value7 | Quantity | Value7 | Quantity | Value7 | Quantity | Value7 | Quantity | Value7 | ||||||||||||||
| Country or locality | (metric tons) | (thousands) | (metric tons) | (thousands) | (metric tons) | (thousands) | (metric tons) | (thousands) | (metric tons) | (thousands) | (metric tons) | (thousands) | |||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2170 | 8140 | 1060 | 4650 | 281 | r | 2040 | 676000 | 4100000 | 27600 | 122000 | 707000 | 4240000 | r | |||||||||||
| 2021: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Belgium | -- | -- | 236 | 608 | -- | -- | 29 | 176 | -- | -- | 265 | 784 | |||||||||||||
| Bolivia | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 763 | 6540 | 114 | 491 | 877 | 7040 | |||||||||||||
| Brazil | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 5720 | 50800 | 15 | 64 | 5740 | 50900 | |||||||||||||
| Canada | 11000 | 84600 | 651 | 3670 | (8) | 3 | 141000 | 1300000 | 19900 | 109000 | 173000 | 1490000 | |||||||||||||
| Chile | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 613000 | 5700000 | -- | -- | 613000 | 5700000 | |||||||||||||
| China | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 654 | 4530 | 54 | 135 | 708 | 4670 | |||||||||||||
| Colombia | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 174 | 1110 | 174 | 1110 | |||||||||||||
| Congo (Kinshasa) | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 22200 | 217000 | -- | -- | 22200 | 217000 | |||||||||||||
| Costa Rica | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 729 | 4470 | 729 | 4470 | |||||||||||||
| Dominican Republic | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1550 | 8520 | 1550 | 8520 | |||||||||||||
| Ecuador | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 88 | 438 | 88 | 438 | |||||||||||||
| Finland | -- | -- | -- | -- | 371 | 2230 | 35 | 316 | -- | -- | 406 | 2540 | |||||||||||||
| Germany | -- | -- | 155 | 1390 | (8) | 59 | 2150 | 22800 | 210 | 165 | 2510 | 24400 | |||||||||||||
| Honduras | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 75 | 476 | 75 | 476 | |||||||||||||
| Japan | 1 | 11 | 483 | 1200 | 1 | 46 | 1440 | 13400 | 5 | 32 | 1930 | 14700 | |||||||||||||
| Mexico | -- | -- | 8 | 74 | (8) | 30 | 87300 | 803000 | 12600 | 57900 | 100000 | 861000 | |||||||||||||
| Netherlands | 10 | 16 | 21 | 102 | (8) | 26 | -- | -- | 2 | 15 | 33 | 159 | |||||||||||||
| Panama | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1040 | 5860 | 1040 | 5860 | |||||||||||||
| Peru | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 28500 | 264000 | 19 | 90 | 28500 | 264000 | |||||||||||||
| Russia | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 3900 | 36100 | -- | -- | 3900 | 36100 | |||||||||||||
| Singapore | -- | -- | -- | -- | (8) | 16 | 10 | 60 | 52 | 248 | 62 | 324 | |||||||||||||
| South Africa | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 277 | 2580 | -- | -- | 277 | 2580 | |||||||||||||
| Suriname | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 254 | 1920 | 254 | 1920 | |||||||||||||
| United Kingdom | -- | -- | (8) | 5 | 10 | 412 | 13 | 246 | (8) | 10 | 23 | 673 | |||||||||||||
| Uruguay | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 481 | 3700 | 481 | 3700 | |||||||||||||
| Vietnam | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | (8) | 10 | 114 | 710 | 114 | 720 | |||||||||||||
| Zambia | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 11400 | 113000 | -- | -- | 11400 | 113000 | |||||||||||||
| Other | (8) | 11 | 28 | 89 | 1 | 106 | 132 | 4430 | 178 | 828 | 339 | 5460 | |||||||||||||
| Total | 11000 | 84600 | 1580 | 7140 | 384 | 2920 | 919000 | 8530000 | 37700 | 196000 | 970000 | 8820000 | |||||||||||||
rRevised. -- Zero.
1Table includes data available through November 15, 2022. Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) code 2603.00.0010. Includes copper ore and concentrates only; excludes copper contained in ore and concentrates of other metals.
3HTS codes 2620.30.0010 and 7401.00.0000. Includes copper matte, ash, and precipitates only; excludes the copper content of mattes and ashes of other metals.
4HTS code 7402.00.0000.
5HTS codes 7403.11.0000, 7403.12.0000, 7403.13.0000, and 7403.19.0000.
6HTS codes 7404.00.3020 and 7404.00.6020.
7U.S. Customs value.
8Less than ½ unit.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Copper statistics | Mineral commodity prices