China June refined copper imports hit nine-month high as domestic supply falls

China’s imports of refined copper hit a nine-month high in June, thanks to strong demand and declining domestic supply.

The world’s largest copper consumer brought in 281,307 metric tons of the metal in June, up 0.5% from the prior month and the highest for a single month since last September, data from the General Administration of Customs showed on Monday.

The Yangshan copper premium, a gauge of China’s appetite for importing the metal, jumped to a 14-month high of $100 a ton on July 17, data from consultancy Shanghai Metals Market showed.

The premium has soared 133% this year.

Domestic supply contracted, with May output falling for a second consecutive month to the lowest since November, as some smelters kicked off equipment maintenance partly due to the acute shortage of copper concentrate.

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The Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia and Chile are the top three suppliers of refined copper to China, posting monthly gains of 18%, 21% and 57%, respectively. Imports in the second quarter surged 42% from the first quarter and were 3% higher than a year earlier.

Reuters reported in May that China’s imports of refined copper are set to rise in the second quarter of this year, driven by strong demand and potentially lower domestic output because of smelter maintenance.

In the first half of 2026, total imports slid by 14.3% from the year before to 1.41 million tons.