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This table presents detailed data on the quantities and values of refined copper semimanufactures and copper sulfate imported into the United States from various countries and localities. It categorizes imports into pipes and tubing, plates, sheets, foil, bars, bare wire including wire rod, stranded wire and cable, as well as copper sulfate by gross weight. This information is crucial for understanding the supply chain dynamics of the U.S. copper industry, which supports a wide range of manufacturing sectors including electrical, construction, and chemical industries. Tracking these imports helps assess the country’s dependence on foreign sources for essential copper products, informs trade policy, and aids in forecasting market trends and potential supply risks.
In 2021, the total imports for consumption of refined copper semimanufactures and copper sulfate reached significant volumes and values across categories. Notably, Korea, Republic of, was the largest supplier of pipes and tubing with 18,600 metric tons valued at $188 million, while Germany led in plates, sheets, foil, and bars imports with 20,100 metric tons worth $222 million. Canada remained a key source for bare wire, delivering 186,000 metric tons valued at $1.66 billion, the highest in that category, and also supplied substantial stranded wire and cable imports. Mexico showed strong figures across multiple categories, including 6,890 metric tons of pipes and tubing and 28,900 metric tons of copper sulfate, valued at $76.6 million and $80.4 million respectively. The total value of imports increased markedly from 2020, with the overall value of pipes and tubing imports rising from $591 million to $851 million, and bare wire imports nearly doubling in value to $1.97 billion. These trends highlight the growing demand for copper products in the U.S. and the critical role of diverse international suppliers in meeting this demand.
| TABLE 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF REFINED COPPER SEMIMANUFACTURES AND COPPER SULFATE, BY COUNTRY OR LOCALITY1, 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pipes and tubing3 | Plates, sheets, foil, bars4 | Bare wire, including wire rod5 | Wire and cable, stranded6 | Copper sulfate (gross weight)7 | ||||||||||||||||
| Quantity | Value8 | Quantity | Value8 | Quantity | Value8 | Quantity | Value8 | Quantity | Value8 | |||||||||||
| Country or locality | (metric tons) | (thousands) | (metric tons) | (thousands) | (metric tons) | (thousands) | (metric tons) | (thousands) | (metric tons) | (thousands) | ||||||||||
| 2020 | 76100 | r | 591000 | r | 53300 | 491000 | 169000 | 1110000 | 3560 | 28100 | 49800 | 95300 | ||||||||
| 2021: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Austria | 712 | 7500 | 136 | 1640 | 1 | 65 | 1 | 27 | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| Bahrain | 5200 | 52500 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| Brazil | 1170 | 11900 | 2740 | 27900 | 5 | 46 | -- | -- | 443 | 1190 | ||||||||||
| Bulgaria | -- | -- | 1740 | 17400 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| Canada | 13600 | 200000 | 342 | 2950 | 186000 | 1660000 | 199 | 2420 | 2330 | 6050 | ||||||||||
| Chile | -- | -- | -- | -- | 105 | 1050 | -- | -- | 876 | 2100 | ||||||||||
| China | 529 | 5520 | 1070 | 15200 | 430 | 5130 | 38 | 674 | 36 | 161 | ||||||||||
| Finland | 432 | 6230 | 4720 | 51000 | 666 | 7160 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| France | 20 | 155 | 1320 | 15500 | 197 | 6440 | 26 | 697 | 15 | 47 | ||||||||||
| Germany | 2160 | 27100 | 20100 | 222000 | 1790 | 21800 | 48 | 1420 | 16 | 171 | ||||||||||
| Greece | 2870 | 28400 | 130 | 894 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| India | 1190 | 12600 | 463 | 4150 | 29 | 324 | 61 | 962 | 131 | 248 | ||||||||||
| Italy | 1900 | 24400 | 1370 | 14100 | 8 | 107 | 1 | 24 | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| Japan | 3 | 96 | 5950 | 96100 | 330 | 5100 | 10 | 432 | 529 | 587 | ||||||||||
| Korea, Republic of | 18600 | 188000 | 3060 | 43200 | 5090 | 49800 | 6 | 77 | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| Malaysia | 2450 | 24100 | 2 | 178 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| Mexico | 6890 | 76600 | 3100 | 32400 | 6350 | 61700 | 932 | 9410 | 28900 | 80400 | ||||||||||
| Netherlands | 32 | 674 | 2710 | 29100 | 2 | 25 | 2 | 119 | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| Peru | -- | -- | 12200 | 126000 | 2770 | 26100 | -- | -- | 1560 | 4080 | ||||||||||
| Russia | -- | -- | -- | -- | 7530 | 70900 | -- | -- | 7030 | 18200 | ||||||||||
| Taiwan | 122 | 1430 | 2570 | 35500 | 213 | 3000 | 1 | 98 | 1360 | 3540 | ||||||||||
| Thailand | 17700 | 177000 | 91 | 1070 | 74 | 658 | 29 | 500 | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| Turkey | (9) | 3 | 620 | 5640 | 267 | 2910 | 3040 | 33000 | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| United Arab Emirates | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1510 | 14300 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| Uzbekistan | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2230 | 21500 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| Other | 640 | 6840 | 969 | 13900 | 319 | 5540 | 41 | 2000 | 106 | 290 | ||||||||||
| Total | 76200 | 851000 | 65400 | 756000 | 216000 | 1970000 | 4440 | 51900 | 43300 | 117000 | ||||||||||
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.
2Copper-alloy products are excluded from imports of copper semimanufactures (pipes and tubing; plates, sheets, foil, and bars; bare wire; and stranded wire and cable).
3Includes all products listed under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) heading 7411.10 (tubes and pipes of refined copper), whether or not seamless and (or) coiled.
4Includes all products listed under the HTS headings 7407.10 (bars, rods, and profiles of refined copper), whether or not hollow; 7409.11 and 7409.19 (plates, sheets, and strip of refined copper), whether or not coiled; and 7410.11 (foil of refined copper, not backed).
5Includes all products listed under the HTS headings 7408.11 and 7408.19 (wire of refined copper), regardless of the maximum cross-sectional dimension. Imports of wire rod (wire with a maximum cross-sectional dimension of more than 6 millimeters) were 149,000 metric tons (t) valued at $973 million in 2020 and 195,000 t valued at $1.79 billion in 2021.
6Includes all products listed under the HTS heading 7413 (stranded wire and cables of refined copper, not electrically insulated), excluding those with fittings or made into articles.
7HTS code 2833.25.0000.
8U.S. Customs value.
9Less than ½ unit.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Copper statistics | Mineral commodity prices