• India has become net copper importer for fifth year in a row.
  • India used to be a net exporter until FY18.
• India imported 2,75,341 tonnes of copper in the previous financial year. These include both refined and finished copper.
  • Refined copper is the end product where impurities are removed from copper ore.
  • Finished copper refers to copper that has been processed and shaped into its final form such as wires, tubes, pipes, sheets
• Reasons for increased demand–
  • government’s thrust on infrastructure
  • strong rebound in economic activities in sectors like real estate, consumer durables and electric vehicle manufacturing.
• Domestic manufacturing
  • India’s total refined copper production capacity is about 7.85-lakh tonnes. Out of this
    • Hindalco has about 5-lakh tonne capacity.
    • Hindustan Copper roughly has a capacity of about 70,000 tonnes.
    • Sterlite Copper has 4 lakh tonnes per annum (LTPA) capacity (but it is not operational since 2018).

About Copper

• Copper is 3^rd most used industrial metal after steel and aluminium.
• It is resistant to corrosion and does not rust.
• It is a good electrical conductor and is
• Uses- automotive and defence industries, as well as in the electrical industry for the manufacture of wires, electric motors, transformers, and generators.
• Top copper producing countries (as of 2022): Chile, Peru, Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Largest copper mines in India: Malanjkhand (MP), Khetri and Kolihan(Rajasthan)