Market Survey on Copper - Indian Bureau of Mines

China is the largest importer of copper ores & concentrates. China imported
over 6.1 million tonnes (gross weight) of copper ores & concentrates in 2009 showing
an increase of 17% over the previous year's imports of 5.20 million tonnes. China
imported copper ores & concentrates mainly from Chile, Peru, Australia and USA.
The imports of refined copper have also increased substantially since 2007 from 827
thousand tonnes and in 2009, it reached 3185 thousand tonnes showing an increase of
285% in just three years.
Indonesia
Indonesia with reserves of 31 million tonnes of contained copper is at the 5 th
position in world tally. There are 5 major deposits of copper in Indonesia. The
average grade of Indonesian copper ore is 1.45% Cu. The Irian Jana Province in the
country has important deposits of copper. Most important of which are Grasberg
Erstberg mine worked by PT Freeport Indonesia Co. (PPFI) one of the major mines
with reserves of the order of 267 million tonnes of copper ore with 1.53% Cu grade.
The annual capacity of the mine is 800 thousand tonnes. The other important mine is
West Nusa Tenaggara in the Sumbawa Island worked by PT Newmont Nusa
Tenaggara Co. with a capacity of 300 thousand tonnes. There is a copper smelter in
the country with an annual capacity of 210 million tonnes owned by PT Smelting Co.
at Gresik, East Java.
Indonesia produced about one million tonnes of ores and concentrates in terms
of copper content in 2009. The mine production of copper in Indonesia was 1006
thousand tonnes in 2003 which decreased to 997 thousand tonnes in 2009. The
production of refined copper was 285 thousand tonnes in 2009 as against 253
thousand tonnes in 2008. The smelter production also increased from 247 thousand
tonnes in 2003 to 305 thousand tonnes in 2009.
Indonesia is one of the major exporters of copper ores & concentrates.
Indonesia exported 2330 thousand tonnes (Gross weight) of copper ores and
concentrates in 2009 which was decreased by 43% as compared to 1627 thousand
tonnes exported in 2005. Japan, Spain, South Korea and India were the main
destination of Indonesian copper concentrates. India imported 333 thousand tonnes of
copper ores & concentrates in 2006 from Indonesia. The exports of refined copper
increased in 2009 to 197 thousand tonnes as compared to 143 thousand tonnes in
2008. There was no import of copper ores & concentrates in Indonesia. The imports
of refined copper also were 104 thousand tonnes in 2009 as against 88 thousand
tonnes in 2008.
Indonesia was a major source for imports of copper ores and concentrates but
during 2008-09 the contribution of Indonesia was only 8% in the total imports.
Iran
Iran has estimated total reserves of 30 million tonnes of copper content
distributed in 5 districts namely, Kerman Azerbaijan, Southern Khorasan, Northern
Sistan, Baluchestan and Sabzever- Semnan belt. The important copper deposits of
Iran are located in Sarcheshmeh, Miduk and Darrehzar all in Kerman locality;
Songun, Mazraeh in Ahar; Darrehzereshk in Taft; Kali Kafi in Anarak; Ghale Zari in
74