China is the world’s largest user of refined copper and its largest importer, with its share of global copper consumption in 2005 estimated at 21%. Refined copper consumption in China has grown by an average of 13.7% a year since 1990 compared with only 2% for the rest of the world.

The ICSG has estimated that, if China’s rate of consumption growth continues, China’s need for copper by 2050 will exceed the entire amount required by the world today. Demand in China is expected to continue to rise with increasing infrastructure requirements, especially power generation, and demand for consumer goods.

Historically, China has relied on imports to meet its high level of copper consumption which significantly exceeds its domestic production, with this trend expected to continue for the foreseeable future.