Market Survey on Copper - Indian Bureau of Mines

Zambia is a major country in the mine production of copper. The total capacity
of ore mining in Zambia in 2007 was around 52.5 million tonnes of ore (the copper
content in the ore are not available). The Lumwana mine (Malundwe Pit) being the
largest mine with a capacity of 20 million tonnes of ore is operated by Lumwana
Mining Co. Ltd. The Kansanshi operated by Kansanshi Mining plc. (12 million
tonnes) Vedanta Resources plc. with 51% stake alongwith Zambia Copper
Investments Ltd. and Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investments Holding plc.
formed a joint venture company named as Konkola Copper Mines Ltd. and is
operating three mines namely Nchanga (open Pit and Underground), Konkola
Underground and Fitwaola open pit with a total capacity of about 10 million tonnes of
copper ore.
The smelter and refinery capacity of the country is around 1.14 million tonnes.
The major producer Konkola copper mines plc. has a total capacity of 500 thousand
tonnes of blister, anode and cathode copper operating plants at Nchanga and
Chingola. The other players are Mopani Copper Mines plc., Chambishi Metals plc.
etc.
The mine production of copper recorded an increasing trend. The production
which was from 347 thousand tonnes in 2003 increased gradually to 601 thousand
tonnes in 2009. The production of Copper ores and concentrates in terms of Copper
content was increasing since last three years. It was 441 thousand tonnes in 2005 and
increased by 36% to 601 thousand tonnes in 2009.
The exports of copper ore and concentrates (in terms of Cu contents) from
Zambia is recorded an increasing trend since last 3 years and reached to 402 thousand
tonnes in 2009. The exports of refined copper from Zambia are also increasing since
last 5 years. The exports of refined copper which were 363 thousand tonnes in 2003
increased by 86% to 675 thousand tonnes in 2009. There were no imports of copper
ores & concentrates and refined copper during the last few years.
4.5 INDIA’S TRADE
The past few years saw the Indian copper industry taking remarkable strides
towards the goal of self sufficiency. The HCL was able to meet the 25 to 30% of the
country’s demand before economic liberalization. After 1992 the private domestic
producers boosted the production of copper metal based on imported ores and
concentrates and now India exports copper to various countries. The details of exports
of copper and other related items are given in Annexures: 4 -VII to 4 - X.
India also imports sizable quantities of copper ores and concentrates to feed the
smelters as well as copper metal is also imported in the form of copper and alloys,
copper scrap and cement copper (precipitated). The details of imports of copper as
above are given in Annexures: 4 - XI to 4 - XIV. However, for the sake of analysis
in this <strong>Market</strong> <strong>Survey</strong> the data on exports of refined copper has been taken from
World Metal Statistics (BGS).
4.5.1 Exports
India plays an important role in the world export market. India stands
11 th in the tally of refined copper exporting countries. India’s export of refined
copper shows an increasing trend since last few years. The exports of refined
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