Consumption Of Copper And Brass Materials In The United States

This table presents detailed data on the consumption of various copper and brass materials across different industrial sectors in the United States, measured in metric tons. It categorizes usage by brass mills, wire-rod mills, foundries and chemical plants, miscellaneous users, and smelters and refiners. This information is vital for understanding the demand patterns and supply chain dynamics within the copper and brass industries, which are integral to manufacturing, electrical applications, construction, and transportation sectors. Tracking consumption trends helps policymakers, manufacturers, and investors gauge economic health and plan for resource allocation, recycling efforts, and production adjustments.

Analyzing the data from 2020 to 2021 reveals several notable trends. Total copper scrap consumption decreased slightly from 926,000 metric tons in 2020 to 905,000 metric tons in 2021, with wire-rod mills showing a significant drop from 119,000 to 98,400 metric tons. Conversely, refined copper consumption increased from 1,680,000 metric tons to 1,750,000 metric tons, driven mainly by wire-rod mills, which rose from 1,230,000 to 1,290,000 metric tons. Miscellaneous users also increased their intake of brass ingots from 51,100 to 55,500 metric tons, while slab zinc consumption declined from 49,700 to 45,800 metric tons. These shifts suggest a modest reduction in scrap usage offset by higher refined copper demand, reflecting possible changes in production processes or market conditions within the copper and brass sectors.