Copper cathode imports have fully stabilised; no supply side rigidity: Mines Ministry
The import of copper cathode has 'fully stabilised' and there is no supply side rigidity being faced by the domestic user industry, according to the Ministry of Mines. In April 2025, 32,000 tonnes of copper was imported against 24,000 tonnes in April 2024, the ministry said in response to a story titled 'Copper wire, tube imports hit multi-year highs in FY25; cathode shipments fell 34% year-on-year' published in The Indian Express on June 9.
The report had said that copper cathode imports to India fell substantially between December 2024 and February 2025 to a monthly average of 2,000 tonnes, from 27,000 tonnes each month between April and November 2024. The dip in imports followed the implementation of the Copper (Quality Control) Order (QCO), 2023 from December 1, 2024.
In response, the Mines Ministry said — 'It must be noted that due to an uptick in domestic production (post commissioning of M/s Adani's Kutch Copper refinery last year), domestic refined copper supply did not come under any pressure. On the metric of last three months' average domestic consumption of copper cathode, there was only marginal reduction from 69 kt in Nov 2024 to 61 kt in Mar 2025.'
'On an annual basis, even though there was a decline in the import of copper cathode from 363 kt in FY 2023-24 to 239 kt in FY 2024-25, it was covered by domestic production. There was a ramp up in domestic production from 509 kt in FY 2023-24 to 573 kt in FY 2024-25 (12.6% growth y-o-y). Monthly import of refined copper has now increased to 32 kt in April 2025, compared to 24 kt in April 2024. Thus, the import of copper cathode has fully stabilized,' the ministry added.
The ministry said that it regularly monitors the supply situation in the country through 'extensive industry consultations, and ensured that all four domestic producers and ten major foreign suppliers had obtained BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certification.'
'There is no supply side rigidity, whatsoever, and domestic user industry has enough choice of BIS-certified domestic and foreign suppliers to source their cathode requirements. Thus, there is no scope for any irrational pricing, and as such the market is driven by LME prices,' the ministry said.
Copper cathode is used in the production of key downstream products, including 'high-performance electrical goods having safety concerns like electrical wires with applications at household level.'
'Bringing copper cathode under mandatory QCO has thus been crucial to ensure quality, consumer safety, protection and performance,' it added.
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