Copper Information And Statistics from USGS
Copper is usually found in nature in association
with sulfur. Pure copper metal is generally
produced from a multistage process, beginning with
the mining and concentrating of low-grade ores
containing copper sulfide minerals, and followed by
smelting and electrolytic refining to produce a pure
copper cathode. An increasing share of copper is
produced from acid leaching of oxidized
ores. Copper is one of the oldest metals ever used
and has been one of the important materials in the
development of civilization. Because of its
properties, singularly or in combination, of high
ductility, malleability, and thermal and electrical
conductivity, and its resistance to corrosion,
copper has become a major industrial metal, ranking
third after iron and aluminum in terms of quantities
consumed. Electrical uses of copper, including
power transmission and generation, building wiring,
telecommunication, and electrical and electronic
products, account for about three quarters of total
copper use. Building construction is the single
largest market, followed by electronics and
electronic products, transportation, industrial
machinery, and consumer and general
products. Copper byproducts from manufacturing and
obsolete copper products are readily recycled and
contribute significantly to copper supply.
Domestic Production and Use: Domestic mine
production in 2007 declined nominally to 1.19
million tons, but its value rose slightly to about
$8.8 billion. The principal mining States, in
descending order of production—Arizona, Utah, New
Mexico, Nevada, and Montana—accounted for 99% of
domestic production; copper was also recovered at
mines in two other States. Although copper was
recovered at 26 mines operating in the United
States, 17 mines accounted for about 99% of
production. Three primary smelters, 4 electrolytic
and 3 fire refineries, and 14 solvent extraction-electrowinning
facilities operated during the year. Refined copper
and direct-melt scrap were consumed at about 30
brass mills; 16 rod mills; and 500 foundries,
chemical plants, and miscellaneous consumers. Copper
and copper alloy products were used in building
construction, 51%; electric and electronic products,
19%; transportation equipment, 10%; consumer and
general products, 11%; and industrial machinery and
equipment, 9%.(1)
1
Some electrical components are included in each end
use. Distribution for 2006 by the Copper Development
Association, Inc., 2007.
|
Salient Statistics --
United States |
|
(All data in
metric tonnes unless noted otherwise) |
| |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007e |
|
Production |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Mine |
1,120 |
1,160 |
1,140 |
1,200 |
1,190 |
| |
Refinery
(Primary) |
1,250 |
1,260 |
1,210 |
1,210 |
1,300 |
| |
Refinery
(Secondary) |
53 |
51 |
47 |
45 |
50 |
|
Copper from All
Old Scrap |
207 |
191 |
182 |
141 |
150 |
|
Imports for
Consumption |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Ores and
Concentrates |
27 |
23 |
(2) |
(2) |
(2) |
| |
Refined |
882 |
807 |
1,000 |
1,070 |
830 |
| |
Unmanufactured |
1,140 |
1,060 |
1,230 |
1,320 |
1,010 |
|
General Imports,
Refined |
687 |
704 |
977 |
1,070 |
830 |
|
Exports
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Ores and
Concentrates |
9 |
24 |
137 |
108 |
80 |
| |
Refined |
93 |
118 |
40 |
106 |
55 |
| |
Unmanufactured |
703 |
789 |
815 |
990 |
800 |
|
Consumption
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Reported,
Refined |
2,290 |
2,410 |
2,270 |
2,130 |
2,120 |
| |
Apparent,
Unmanufactured3 |
2,430 |
2,550 |
2,400 |
2,180 |
2,300 |
|
Average Prices
(cents per pound) |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Domestic
Producer, cathode |
85.2 |
133.9 |
172.5 |
314.8 |
335 |
| |
LME
High-grade |
80.7 |
130.0 |
166.8 |
304.9 |
329 |
|
Stocks,
year-end, refined, held by U.S. Producers,
Consumers and Exchanges |
656 |
134 |
66 |
196 |
120 |
|
Employment,
Mine and Mill (000s) |
6.8 |
7.0 |
7.0 |
7.2 |
7.3 |
Net Import
Reliance as a percentage
of Apparent Consumption
|
40 |
43 |
42 |
38 |
37 |
e estimated
2 less than half a unit
3
Defined as primary
refined production + copper from old scrap converted
to refined metal and alloys + refined imports –
refined exports ± changes in refined stocks. General
imports were used to calculate apparent consumption.
Recycling: Old scrap, converted to refined
metal and alloys, provided 150,000 tons of copper,
equivalent to 7% of apparent consumption. Purchased
new scrap, derived from fabricating operations,
yielded 800,000 tons of contained copper; about 88%
of the copper contained in new scrap was consumed at
brass or wire-rod mills. Of the total copper
recovered from scrap (including aluminum- and
nickel-based scrap), brass mills recovered 75%;
miscellaneous manufacturers, foundries, and chemical
plants, 11%; ingot makers, 9%; and copper smelters
and refiners, 5%. Copper in all old and new, refined
or remelted scrap contributed about 32% of the U.S.
copper supply.
Import Sources (2003-06): Unmanufactured:
Chile, 39%; Canada, 32%; Peru, 15%; Mexico, 6%; and
other, 8%. Refined copper accounted for 79% of
unwrought copper imports.
Depletion Allowance: 15% (Domestic), 14%
(Foreign).
Government Stockpile: The stockpiles of
refined copper and brass were liquidated in 1993 and
1994, respectively. Details on inventories of
beryllium-copper master alloys (4% beryllium) can be
found in the section on beryllium.
Events, Trends, and Issues: Copper prices,
which had risen to record-high levels of more than
$4.00 per pound at mid-year 2006, fell below $3.00
per pound during the first quarter of 2007, but rose
sharply again in April, with the producer price
averaging $3.53 per pound during the second and
third quarters of the year. A decline in commodity
exchange inventories during the second quarter and a
dramatic rise in imports of refined copper by China,
the world’s leading copper consumer, gave rise to
concern over supply adequacy. Year-on-year apparent
consumption of copper in China for the first 6
months of 2007 (excluding changes in unreported
Government and industry stocks) rose by 37%. Labor
strikes in Canada, Chile, Mexico, and Peru, and
lower than anticipated production in Africa,
Indonesia, and the United States, led to lower
copper supply. According to the International Copper
Study Group,6 the production deficit during the
first half of the year would reverse, and a modest
production surplus was anticipated by yearend.
In the United States, mine production declined
slightly owing to lower ore grades at a major mine,
and continued labor and equipment shortages. In
March, Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc. (New
Orleans, LA) acquired Phelps Dodge Corp.7 Production
by domestic brass mills was lower during the first
half of the year and was anticipated to decline
sharply during the fourth quarter owing to
substitution and a weak housing market. Despite
lower demand, domestic production of wire rod
declined only slightly during the first half of the
year as the weak dollar led to a sharp reduction in
imports. One copper tube producer announced it was
closing one of its casting facilities, and ownership
changes were announced at a major brass mill and
wire and cable manufacturer. In addition to a major
new mine-for-leach project in Arizona due onstream
in 2008, several companies announced progress toward
the startup of new projects in Arizona, Minnesota,
and Montana that would add 240,000 tons per year of
new mine capacity by 2009.
|
World Mine
Production, Reserves and Reserve BaseA |
| |
Mine
Production |
Reserves |
Reserve Base |
| |
2006 |
2007e |
|
|
|
United States |
1,200 |
1,190 |
35,000 |
70,000 |
|
Australia |
859 |
860 |
24,000 |
43,000 |
|
Canada |
607 |
585 |
9,000 |
20,000 |
|
Chile |
5,360 |
5,700 |
150,000 |
360,000 |
|
China |
890 |
920 |
26,000 |
63,000 |
|
Indonesia |
816 |
780 |
35,000 |
38,000 |
|
Kazakhstan |
457 |
460 |
14,000 |
20,000 |
|
Mexico |
338 |
400 |
30,000 |
40,000 |
|
Peru |
1,049 |
1,200 |
30,000 |
60,000 |
|
Poland |
512 |
470 |
30,000 |
48,000 |
|
Russia |
725 |
730 |
20,000 |
30,000 |
|
Zambia |
467 |
530 |
19,000 |
35,000 |
|
Other Countries |
1,835 |
1,800 |
65,000 |
110,000 |
|
World Total
(rounded) |
15,100 |
15,600 |
490,000 |
940,000 |
AOfficial
reserves reported by Poland include properties being
considered for future development.
World Resources: A recent assessment of U.S.
copper resources indicated 550 million tons of
copper in identified (260 million tons) and
undiscovered resources (290 million tons).9 A
preliminary assessment indicates that global
land-based resources exceed 3 billion tons. Deep-sea
nodules were estimated to contain 700 million tons
of copper.
Substitutes: Aluminum substitutes for copper
in power cables, electrical equipment, automobile
radiators, and cooling and refrigeration tube;
titanium and steel are used in heat exchangers;
optical fiber substitutes for copper in some
telecommunications applications; and plastics
substitute for copper in water pipe, drain pipe, and
plumbing fixtures.
Source: USGS
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