The import of copper cathode has “absolutely stabilised” and there’s no provide aspect rigidity being confronted by the home consumer trade, in accordance with the Ministry of Mines. In April 2025, 32,000 tonnes of copper was imported in opposition to 24,000 tonnes in April 2024, the ministry mentioned in response to a narrative titled ‘Copper wire, tube imports hit multi-year highs in FY25; cathode shipments fell 34% year-on-year’ printed in The Indian Specific on June 9.
The report had mentioned that copper cathode imports to India fell considerably between December 2024 and February 2025 to a month-to-month common of two,000 tonnes, from 27,000 tonnes every month between April and November 2024. The dip in imports adopted the implementation of the Copper (High quality Management) Order (QCO), 2023 from December 1, 2024.
In response, the Mines Ministry mentioned — “It have to be famous that because of an uptick in home manufacturing (put up commissioning of M/s Adani’s Kutch Copper refinery final yr), home refined copper provide didn’t come underneath any strain. On the metric of final three months’ common home consumption of copper cathode, there was solely marginal discount from 69 kt in Nov 2024 to 61 kt in Mar 2025.”
“On an annual foundation, despite the fact that there was a decline within the import of copper cathode from 363 kt in FY 2023-24 to 239 kt in FY 2024-25, it was lined by home manufacturing. There was a ramp up in home manufacturing from 509 kt in FY 2023-24 to 573 kt in FY 2024-25 (12.6% progress y-o-y). Month-to-month import of refined copper has now elevated to 32 kt in April 2025, in comparison with 24 kt in April 2024. Thus, the import of copper cathode has absolutely stabilized,” the ministry added.
The ministry mentioned that it commonly screens the availability state of affairs within the nation by means of “in depth trade consultations, and ensured that each one 4 home producers and ten main overseas suppliers had obtained BIS (Bureau of Indian Requirements) certification.”
“There is no such thing as a provide aspect rigidity, in any respect, and home consumer trade has sufficient alternative of BIS-certified home and overseas suppliers to supply their cathode necessities. Thus, there is no such thing as a scope for any irrational pricing, and as such the market is pushed by LME costs,” the ministry mentioned.
Copper cathode is used within the manufacturing of key downstream merchandise, together with “high-performance electrical items having security issues like electrical wires with purposes at family degree.”
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“Bringing copper cathode underneath obligatory QCO has thus been essential to make sure high quality, shopper security, safety and efficiency,” it added.