Overview
- Customs data published Monday showed about $1.30 billion in copper and related exports in the early months of fiscal 2025‑26, with roughly $1.02 billion of that in copper ingots sent to China.
- Monthly ingot shipments climbed sharply from $52.894 million in July 2025 to $393.126 million in March 2026, signalling sustained month‑on‑month growth in processing and exports.
- Officials and exporters attribute the surge to the Export Facilitation Scheme and S.R.O. 1435(I)/2025, a rule that collects duties at import and allows domestically recovered copper to be exported as value‑added under monitored paperwork.
- The boom has increased activity and jobs across processors, refiners, logistics, warehousing and small suppliers and has opened markets beyond China, including reported shipments to the United States and Canada.
- Industry estimates say exports could rise to $2 billion–$3 billion if the policy environment stays stable, but traders warn that consistent implementation, transparent documentation and controls against misuse are needed to sustain growth.