Copper
Canadian Minerals Yearbook (CMY) - 2009
Maureen Coulas
The author is with the Minerals and Metals Sector,
Natural Resources Canada.
Telephone: 613-992-4093
E-mail: maureen.coulas@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
HIGHLIGHTS
- Prolonged strikes at Vale’s Canadian nickel-copper mines contributed to an 18% decline in mined copper output in 2009.
- The permanent closure of two Canadian copper smelters and one Canadian copper refinery was announced.
- Strong Chinese demand and sluggish supply supported a steady upward price trend throughout 2009.
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008/07 | 2009/08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (000 tonnes) | (% change) | ||||
| Mine production | 15 474 | 15 528 | 15 754 | 0.3 | 1.5 |
| Primary refined production | 15 191 | 15 399 | 15 466 | 1.4 | 0.4 |
| Secondary refined production | 2 743 | 2 823 | 2 911 | 2.9 | 3.1 |
| Total refined production | 17 934 | 18 222 | 18 377 | 1.6 | 0.9 |
| Usage (consumption) | 18 239 | 18 062 | 18 206 | -1.0 | 0.8 |
| Refined balance (1) | -305 | 160 | 171 | n.a. | n.a. |
| Refined stocks at year-end (2) | 1 027 | 1 156 | 1 406 | . . | . . |
Source: International Copper Study Group, June 2010 bulletin.
. . Not available; n.a. Not applicable.
(1) Surplus or deficit is calculated using total refined production minus refined usage.
(2) includes producer, consumer, government, exchange, and merchant stocks.
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash US¢/lb | 305 | 323 | 315 | 234 |
| Cash US$/t | 6 721 | 7 117 | 6 955 | 5 149 |
| 3 months US$/t | 6 665 | 7 088 | 6 887 | 5 171 |
| 15 months US$/t | 6 038 | 6 650 | 6 685 | 5 192 |
| 27 months US$/t | 5 383 | 6 083 | 6 472 | 5 183 |
Source: Bloomsbury Minerals Economics Ltd.
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 (p) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (tonnes) | |||
| Mine output (1) | 596 249 | 606 999 | 494 524 |
| Primary mine production (2) | 577 545 | 583 376 | 481 374 |
| Reported mine production (3) | 593 113 | 598 056 | 480 640 |
| Refined production | 453 453 | 443 650 | 335 896 |
| Domestic shipments | 194 332 | 185 240 | 131 554 |
| Refined imports | 11 715 | 11 654 | 10 566 |
| Apparent copper usage (4) | 206 047 | 196 894 | 142 120 |
| Refined copper exports | 297 713 | 289 991 | 221 639 |
Source: Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).
(p) Preliminary.
(1) Metal content in concentrates produced based on NRCan surveys. (2) Recoverable metal in concentrates shipped based on NRCan surveys. (3) Reported copper mine production is taken from company reports and is a mixture of copper in concentrates produced and payable copper in concentrates, depending upon the company. (4) Usage = domestic shipments + refined imports.
Note: NRCan data are rounded to the nearest 100 t, except for reported copper mine production, which is rounded to the nearest 1000 t.
Copper is the third-ranking metal produced and used in the world, behind aluminum and steel. Global refined copper production in 2009 was reported at 18.4 Mt. Of this amount, 16%, or 2.9 Mt, was produced from recycled sources (refer also to the Recent World Copper Data table above).
After beginning the year at US$1.39/lb, copper prices rose steadily, reaching a high on December 31 of US$3.33/lb. The copper price averaged US$2.34/lb in 2009, down US$0.83 from the 2008 average of US$3.17/lb.1
CANADIAN PRODUCTION SUMMARY
The locations of Canadian mines and metallurgical operations that produced copper in 2009 can be viewed by using Natural Resources Canada’s Interactive Maps tool at http://mmsd.mms.nrcan.gc.ca/stat-stat/map-car/index-eng.aspx.
Mined copper production data for each mine in Canada that produced copper for 2007, 2008, and 2009 are detailed in the table below.
| Name of Mine | Operator | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (tonnes) | ||||
| Brunswick | Xstrata plc | 8 344 | 6 000 | 7 000 |
| Copper Rand (includes Joe Mann) | Campbell Resources Inc. | 1 914 | 2 853 | – |
| Duck Pond | Aur Resources Inc. | 12 000 | 13 000 | 14 000 |
| Gibraltar (McLeese Lake) | Taseko Mines Limited | 24 766 | 26 717 | 30 890 |
| Gibraltar SX/EW | Taseko Mines Limited | 1 089 | 1 542 | 998 |
| Greenwood gold mine | Merit Mining Corp. | – | 400 | – |
| Fabie Bay | First Metals Inc. | – | 5 000 | – |
| Highland Valley | Teck Cominco | 139 000 | 119 000 | 118 000 |
| Huckleberry | Imperial Metals Corp. | 25 013 | 16 882 | 15 876 |
| Hudson Bay 777 and Trout Lake | HudBay Minerals Inc. | 54 300 | 51 500 | 48 397 |
| Lac des Iles | North American Palladium Ltd. | 2 511 | 2 097 | – |
| Kemess South | Northgate Exploration Limited | 30 903 | 23 544 | 23 812 |
| Kidd Creek | Xstrata plc | 46 615 | 42 723 | 43 600 |
| Montcalm | Xstrata plc | 5 582 | 5 091 | 1 179 |
| Mouska | Iamgold | – | 308 | 320 |
| Langlois | Breakwater Resources | 1 315 | 1 994 | – |
| LaRonde | Agnico-Eagle | 7 482 | 7 128 | 7 146 |
| Minto | Capstone Mining Corporation | 4 727 | 20 865 | 28 123 |
| Mount Polley | Imperial Metals Corporation | 26 084 | 27 354 | 15 359 |
| Myra Falls | Breakwater Resources Limited | 6 086 | 5 024 | 3 653 |
| Perseverance | Xstrata plc | – | 3 793 | 8 600 |
| Raglan | Xstrata plc | 6 729 | 6 402 | 7 188 |
| Sudbury Operations (1) | Vale | 122 000 | 129 000 | 55 000 |
| Sudbury Division Strathcona mill Cu output | Xstrata plc | 21 853 | 19 138 | 21 600 |
| Troilus | Inmet Mining Corporation | 2 800 | 5 700 | 5 900 |
| Voisey's Bay | Vale | 42 000 | 55 000 | 24 000 |
| Total | 593 113 | 598 055 | 480 640 | |
Source: Author's calculations based on company reports.
– Nil.
(1) In 2009, included output from the Copper Cliff, Creighton, Stovie, Garson, McCreedy/East Coleman, and Gertrude mines, plus three mines owned by FNX Mining Company Inc.
Mined copper output of 495 000 t in 2009 represented an 18.5% decrease from 2008 output of 607 000 t. Nearly all of the decline was attributable to prolonged strikes at Vale’s Sudbury operations and at the Voisey’s Bay mine in Newfoundland and Labrador. The trend in mine production, excluding Vale’s operations, reveals a year-on-year decline of only 3%. Details on significant developments at individual operations are discussed in the Canadian Developments section.
Based on data reported to Natural Resources Canada via monthly surveys, refined copper production was 335 900 t in 2009, compared with 443 700 t in 2008. Operations at both of the refineries that operated during the year – Kidd Creek in Timmins, Ontario, and Canadian Copper Refinery (CCR) in Montréal, Quebec – were affected by lower anode receipts from the Canadian smelters supplying these plants.
CANADIAN DEVELOPMENTS
Mined copper output from Vale’s Canadian operations was severely affected by prolonged strikes at both the Voisey’s Bay mine and the Sudbury nickel operations, where copper is produced alongside nickel. Reported 2009 mined copper output from the Sudbury operations was 55 000 t, a 56% decline from the previous year. Reported smelter production was 42 000 t of copper, compared to 115 000 t in 2008.
Vale announced an eight-week shut-down at the Sudbury nickel mining and processing facility starting in June 2009 in response to weak global demand for nickel. This was followed by a strike announcement on July 13 by unionized maintenance and production employees at the Sudbury and Port Colbourne operations. Partial production at the Sudbury mine site resumed in September 2009 and focused on operating two high-copper mining zones at the company’s Clarabelle mill. The strike at Sudbury ended on July 13, 2010, when workers ratified a new five-year collective bargaining agreement.
Mined copper output from the Voisey’s Bay nickel mine was reported at 24 000 t in 2009, down 56% from 2008 output of 55 000 t. Operations were affected by a four-week shut-down in July, followed by a strike that began on August 3, 2009, which, as of September 23, 2010, remained unresolved.
The Kidd Creek copper smelter and refinery was temporarily shut down for eight weeks in early April in response to weak demand for the sulphuric acid that is produced as a by-product from its smelting operations. A second shut-down of approximately eight weeks was announced in September in response to a shortage of third-party copper concentrates brought on by tight global copper concentrate supplies and a lack of feed from local supplier Vale due to the strike action at its Sudbury operations.
In December, Xstrata plc announced that operations at its Kidd Creek copper and zinc metallurgical plants in Timmins would permanently cease on May 1, 2010, as part of a plan to restructure its Canadian metallurgical operations. The Kidd Creek mine and concentrator remain in operation. Low global smelting and refining charges, low sulphuric acid prices, rising costs, and the appreciation of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar were all cited by Xstrata as factors in its decision to close the plants. The copper concentrate produced at the Kidd mine is being shipped to the Horne smelter in Rouyn-Noranda for processing.
Production at Xstrata’s Montcalm mine was temporarily suspended at the end of March and then indefinitely suspended from June onward due to an unacceptable risk profile following unplanned ground movement.
In August, Hudbay Minerals Inc. announced plans to permanently close its copper smelter in Flin Flon, Manitoba, by July 1, 2010, and its copper refinery in White Pine, Michigan. Copper anodes produced at the Flin Flon plant were shipped to the White Pine refinery for further processing into copper cathodes. The age of the plant, poor terms for buying third-party concentrates, and new limits for sulphur dioxide and mercury emissions under federal regulations were factors in the closure decision. A filtration plant and concentrate load-out facility were installed in 2009 to allow the shipment of copper concentrates produced at HudBay Minerals’ 777 and Trout Lake mines to domestic smelters or to ports for overseas shipment.
HudBay Minerals’ 2009 exploration activities resulted in the discovery of a new copper-gold zone at the Lalor deposit. The new zone is separate and distinct from the base-metal and gold zones that the company first discovered in 2007. In October 2009, HudBay filed an updated NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate for the base-metal zone and an $85 million capital investment for Phase 1 mine development of the deposit was approved. In 2010, HudBay will spend $8.3 million to further explore the Lalor Lake deposit, including further outlining the new copper-gold zone. (Additional details on the development of Lalor can be found in the Canadian Minerals Yearbook’s 2009 chapter on zinc.)
A two-year extension of the mine life at Huckleberry, to early 2012, was announced in June 2009. Huckleberry, located in northwestern British Columbia, is owned by Imperial Metals Corporation (50%) and a consortium of Japanese companies (50%).
Construction work on the Copper Mountain project advanced in 2009 towards a mid-2011 start-up date. The project, owned by Vancouver-based Copper Mountain Mining Corporation (75%) and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation (25%), is located near Princeton, British Columbia, and consists of a 35 000-t/d concentrator and a super pit that incorporates three former pits mined prior to 1996. During 2009, site excavation for the concentrator was completed and mill foundation work began. The mine is expected to produce an average of 47 000 t of copper annually over the first 12 years of an estimated 17-year mine life.
New Gold Inc. advanced work on development of its New Afton mine, located 10 km from Kamloops in south-central British Columbia. This new underground mine is expected produce an estimated average of 34 000 t of copper, 214 000 oz of silver, and 85 000 oz of gold annually over a 12-year mine life starting in the second half of 2012. During 2009, $50 million of the approximately $410 million capital cost of the project was spent to advance development of the underground and surface infrastructure to 92% completion.
In November, Taseko Mines Limited announced it had entered into a joint-venture agreement with a Japanese consortium (Sojitz Corporation, Dowa Mining, and Furukawa) under which the Japanese partners would pay Taseko $187 million for a 25% interest in the Gibraltar copper-molybdenum mine in north-central British Columbia. During 2009, Taseko advanced work on a project to expand the mill capacity at Gibraltar from 46 000 t/d to 55 000 t/d by the end of 2010.
Xstrata’s CCR refinery in Montréal-East produced 278 200 t of cathode in 2009, a 19% decline compared to 2008, due to reduced supply from Vale as a result of the strike at Sudbury and lower output at the Horne smelter.
In 2009, cathode production from the Kidd Creek refinery dropped by 38% from 2008 levels to 54 100 t as a result of lower anode production from the Kidd Creek smelter. With the closure of the Kidd Creek smelter in 2010, Xstrata’s CCR refinery in Montréal will be the sole remaining copper refinery in Canada.
MARKET REVIEW AND OUTLOOK
Global Supply/Demand and Price Outlook
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008/07 | 2009/08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (000 tonnes) | (% change) | ||||
| United States | 2 137 | 2 020 | 1 952 | -5.5 | -3.4 |
| Other America | 1 082 | 1 103 | 619 | 1.9 | -43.9 |
| Europe | 5 145 | 4 889 | 3 862 | -5.0 | -21.0 |
| Japan | 1 252 | 1 184 | 875 | -5.4 | -26.1 |
| China | 4 957 | 5 202 | 7 189 | 4.9 | 38.2 |
| Other Asia | 3 246 | 3 214 | 3 274 | -1.0 | 1.9 |
| Oceania | 148 | 151 | 130 | 2.0 | -13.9 |
| Africa | 272 | 299 | 306 | 9.9 | 2.3 |
| Total world | 18 239 | 18 062 | 18 207 | -1.0 | 0.8 |
| World excluding China | 13 282 | 12 860 | 11 018 | -3.2 | -14.3 |
Source: International Copper Study Group, June 2010 bulletin, Tables 2 and 7.
A country and regional breakdown of world copper usage, or demand, over the 2007-09 period indicates that demand for copper in 2009 contracted in virtually every region or country other than Africa and China. A strong 38% growth in Chinese demand was able to offset declines elsewhere, resulting in a small year-on-year net increase in global demand of just 0.8%, according to International Copper Study Group (ICSG) figures published in June 2010. The phenomenal rate of growth in demand from China was partly fueled by infrastructure spending by the Chinese government, a shortage of scrap, and restocking of strategic stockpiles. This growth rate is not expected to be maintained in 2010.
On the supply side, growth in mined copper output was sluggish at 1.5%, continuing a trend in slow growth that began in 2005. A number of factors are contributing to the sluggish supply growth, including pit stability issues, slower-than-expected ramp-ups at new mines, strikes, weather, and declining average grades at several of the largest copper mines.
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 09/08 | 10/09 | 11/10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (000 t) | (% change year on year) | ||||||
| Mine production | 15 528 | 15 756 | 16 805 | 17 301 | 1.5 | 6.7 | 3.0 |
| Refined production | 18 222 | 18 401 | 18 515 | 19 094 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 3.1 |
| Copper usage | 18 062 | 18 206 | 17 937 | 18 851 | 0.8 | -1.5 | 5.1 |
| Refined copper balance (1) | 160 | 195 | 578 | 243 | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
Source: International Copper Study Group, 2010-2011 Forecast, issued April 30, 2010.
n.a. Not applicable.
(1) Refined production minus copper usage.
A supply/demand balance forecast for 2009 and 2010, released by the ICSG in June 2010, indicated that world refined copper supply growth of 1.5% only slightly outpaced growth in copper demand of 0.8%. As a result, the balance between world demand and supply was a small surplus of 195 000 t, virtually the same level as the calculated 2008 surplus of 160 000 t. The ICSG forecasted a surplus in 2010 and 2011. However, more recent forecasts, which reflect strong second-quarter demand data, are indicating a deficit in 2010 and 2011 based on the expectation that global demand for copper is accelerating and that supply growth will not keep pace in the near term.
Although the average price of copper in 2009 fell to US$2.34/lb from the 2008 average of US$3.15/lb, prices climbed steadily throughout the year as Chinese demand for refined copper remained strong, in part due to low scrap availability, while markets experienced the above-noted supply disruptions. London Metal Exchange copper prices climbed from US$1.39/lb at the start of the year to US$3.33/lb at year-end. Steady demand growth and the low level of global stocks should result in continued firm prices. Copper prices are expected to hold above the US$3.20/lb level through 2012. Beyond 2012, mine supply growth from new projects and expansions could outpace demand and put downward pressure on prices.
OTHER COPPER INFORMATION
Applications
Copper is used in many applications. Due to its high electrical conductivity, a primary application of copper is in the fabrication of wire and cable used to carry power and signals. The high conductivity means good efficiency and fewer losses due to electrical resistance. Copper’s good corrosion resistance means that it is a very durable electrical conductor. High conductivity means a smaller cross-section for wires relative to other metals, which is important for small motors, hand tools, and crowded conduit spaces. However, in long-distance transmission lines, the heavier density of copper relative to conductivity means that aluminum is preferred over copper as the current-carrying metal for such lines.
Copper also has a high thermal conductivity that makes it a choice material for heat exchangers such as automotive radiators and those used for solar heating. More information about the applications of copper can be found on the web sites of various copper development organizations. An extensive review of applications is available at www.copperinfo.com/cproducts/index.html.
Copper Use in Canada
Canadian copper use is not surveyed on an annual basis. However, apparent use can be calculated by adding the imports of refined copper to the reported domestic shipments of copper producers. For 2009, drawing from the Canadian data table at the beginning of this chapter, apparent consumption would be calculated by adding 10 566 t of refined imports to 131 554 t of producers’ domestic shipments, for a total of 142 120 t.
Other Information Sources on Copper Use in Canada
The Canadian Copper & Brass Development Association (CCBDA) assists copper and copper alloy users on many matters, including technical information. Its web site contains technical information that can be ordered on-line for such topics as alloy castings, tubing, forgings, etc. Technical assistance and library services are also available. The membership includes both users and producers of copper. Companies making wire, tubes, rod, plumbing fixtures, castings, and forgings are among those that are members of the CCBDA. The Association’s web site can be found at www.ccbda.org.
The Canadian Association of Recycling Industries (CARI) is Canada’s national organization for recycling industries, of which metal recycling, and copper recycling in particular, is an important component. The Association represents companies through the entire chain of recycling from scrap collection to processing and utilization (www.cari-acir.org).
The Canadian Foundry Association (CFA), formed in 1975, is the national association of foundries in Canada. Its members include brass and bronze foundries. The CFA’s web site, located at www.foundryassociation.ca, contains a membership list with links to the members’ web sites. In addition, Industry Canada maintains a web site that allows searches for companies engaged in the semi-fabrication of metals and fabrication metals, including copper and copper alloys. The Canadian Company Capabilities data base can be searched using terms such as “copper,” “brass” or “bronze.” The site is located at www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ccc-rec.nsf/eng/home.
Natural Resources Canada maintainsaCanadian recyclingweb site at www.nrcan.gc.ca/mms-smm/busi-indu/rec-rec-eng.htm. A key feature of the site is a searchable database of Canadian companies involved in metals and minerals recycling.
Other Sources of Copper Information
Much more information is available on copper supply, demand, and uses, as well as on the health and environmental aspects of copper. Good sources of information on production are the web sites of those companies that produce copper. Securities information is available from SEDAR, the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (see www.sedar.com).
Production, trade, and capacity data are published by the International Copper Study Group, an intergovernmental organization consisting of 22 member countries served by a secretariat based in Lisbon, Portugal. Various publications are sold by the ICSG, including its monthly Copper Bulletin. Yearly subscriptions are available. In addition, the ICSG sells a Directory of Copper Mines and Plants spanning a five-year period. Details of these and other publications are available at www.icsg.org in the “Publications” section.
The International Copper Association (ICA) maintains a web site located at www.copperinfo.com/index4.html with information about:
- copper products: building products, consumer and electronic items, transportation, agriculture, industrial applications, machinery, and future applications;
- energy efficiency: air conditioners and refrigerators, copper bus bars, motors, power cables, solar energy, transformers, and case studies;
- health and nutrition: aquatic life, biological importance, copper deficiency, copper research, information flow project, drinking water, good health with copper, plant and animal health, pregnancy and infants, public health benefits, quick facts, and ICA research;
- environment: climate change mitigation, copper research, information flow project, energy conservation, natural presence, recycling, sustainability, and ICA research; and
- about copper: copper alloys, copper exchanges, copper markets, copper mining, and copper products.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is another source of detailed information on the world copper industry. The copper information available includes yearly reviews, monthly articles, and an annual summary. The copper portal for the USGS is located at http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/copper/.
Information about copper use is also available from the International Wrought Copper Council. Its site, located at www.coppercouncil.org, has links to member companies and organizations.
A NOTE ON STATISTICS BASED ON "PRODUCTION" VS. "SHIPMENTS"
Canadian statistics include a report of “mine production” (which is actually mill or concentrator production) that represents the total amount of copper produced in concentrates by Canadian mines. However, Canadian statistics also include a “primary production” figure, which is actually the total amount of copper contained in concentrates that is shipped from the mine site in a year. This measure of production is less widely used and is not consistent with the definitions used by the ICSG; Canadian “mine production” data are consistent with the ICSG definition.
The preliminary estimate for 2009 shipments of copper in concentrates (“primary production”) was 481 374 t, which is less than the over 583 376 t of copper in concentrates reported as being produced in 2009. The production data are usually higher than shipments as production relates to the total content of copper in concentrates produced whereas the shipments data relate to the estimated recoverable copper in concentrates shipped. In certain instances, material produced at the end of one year may not be shipped until the next year, causing a further difference between the data series.
Companies may show production data that report the total amount of copper contained in the concentrates produced in a year or the “payable production” may be shown. The latter reflects the amount of copper for which the mine is paid by the custom smelter. The deduction reflects the inability of the smelters to achieve 100% recoverability of the copper in the feed material. For some operations that report payable production, it is possible to calculate the production of copper contained if one knows the tonnage of ore processed, the copper grade of the material processed, and the recovery factor at the mill.
1 London Metal Exchange Official Daily Settlement Price, US¢/lb.
Notes: (1) For definitions and valuation of mineral production, shipments, and trade, please refer to the chapter entitled “Definitions and Valuation: Mineral Production, Shipments, and Trade.” (2) Information in this review was current as of September 20, 2010. Some information on developments related to copper supply/demand and price trends that occurred in 2010 has been included. (3) Various Internet sites have been identified in this article. Please note that Natural Resources Canada has no control over the content of the web sites of other organizations, which may be modified, updated, or deleted at any time. (4) This and other reviews, including previous editions, are available on the Internet at www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/mms-smm/busi-indu/cmy-amc/com-eng.htm.
Note to Readers
The intent of this document is to provide general information and to elicit discussion. It is not intended as a reference, guide or suggestion to be used in trading, investment, or other commercial activities. The author and Natural Resources Canada make no warranty of any kind with respect to the content and accept no liability, either incidental, consequential, financial or otherwise, arising from the use of this document.
Figure 1
Copper, Exchange Stocks and Prices, 1999-2009
Sources: London Metal Exchange; International Copper Study Group.
Figure 2
Copper, Daily London Metal Exchange Cash Settlement Price, January 2009 to June 2010
Source: London Metal Exchange.
| Item No. | Description | Canada | United States | EU | Japan | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MFN | GPT | USA | Canada | Conventional Rate (1) | WTO (2) | ||
| 26.03 | Copper ores and concentrates | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| 26.04 | Nickel ores and concentrates | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| 26.07 | Lead ores and concentrates | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| 26.08 | Zinc ores and concentrates | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| 2616.10 | Precious metal ores and concentrates: silver ores and concentrates | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| 2620.30 | Slag, ash and residues (other than from the manufacture of iron or steel) containing metals, arsenic or their compounds: containing mainly copper | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| 2825.50 | Hydrazine and hydroxylamine and their inorganic salts; other inorganic bases; other metal oxides, hydroxides and peroxides: copper oxides and hydroxides | Free | Free | Free | Free | 3.2% | 4.8% |
| 2833.25 | Sulphates; alums; peroxosulphates (persulphates): other sulphates: of copper | Free-5.5% | Free | Free | Free | 3.2% | 3.9% |
| 2836.99 | Carbonates; peroxocarbonates (percarbonates); commercial ammonium carbonate containing ammonium carbamate: other: other | Free-3.5% | Free-3% | Free | Free | 3.7-5.5% | 3.3% |
| 2837.19 | Cyanides, cyanide oxides and complex cyanides: cyanides and cyanide oxides: other | Free | Free | Free | Free | 5.5% | 3.3% |
| 3212.90 | Pigments (including metallic powders and flakes) dispersed in non-aqueous media, in liquid or paste form, of a kind used in the manufacture of paints (including enamels); stamping foils; dyes and other colouring matter put up in forms or packings for retail sale: other | Free-3% | Free | Free | Free | 6.5% | 2.1-4.1% |
| 74.01 | Copper mattes; cement copper (precipitated copper) | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| 74.02 | Unrefined copper; copper anodes for electrolytic refining | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free-3% |
| 74.03 | Refined copper and copper alloys, unwrought | ||||||
| 7403.11 | Refined copper: cathodes and sections of cathodes | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free-3% |
| 7403.12 | Refined copper: wire-bars | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free-3% |
| 7403.13 | Refined copper: billets | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free-3% |
| 7403.19 | Refined copper: other | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free-3% |
| 7403.21 | Copper alloys: copper-zinc base alloys (brass) | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| 7403.22 | Copper alloys: copper-tin base alloys (bronze) | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free-3% |
| 7403.29 | Copper alloys: other copper alloys (other than master alloys of heading 74.05) | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free-3% |
| 74.04 | Copper waste and scrap | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| 74.05 | Master alloys of copper | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | 3% |
| 7406.10 | Copper powders and flakes: powders of non-lamellar structure | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | 3% |
| 7406.20 | Copper powders and flakes: powders of lamellar structure; flakes | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | 3% |
| 74.07 | Copper bars, rods and profiles | ||||||
| 7407.10 | Of refined copper | 2.5-3% | Free | Free | Free | 4.8% | 3% |
| 7407.21 | Of copper alloys: of copper-zinc base alloys (brass) | Free-2% | Free | Free | Free | 4.8% | 3% |
| 7407.29 | Of copper alloys: other | 2-3% | Free | Free | Free | 4.8% | 3% |
| 74.08 | Copper wire | ||||||
| 7408.11 | Of refined copper: of which the maximum cross-sectional dimersion exceeds 6 mm | Free-3% | Free | Free | Free | 4.8% | 3% |
| 7408.19 | Of refined copper: other | 3% | Free | Free | Free | 4.8% | 3% |
| 7408.21 | Of copper alloys: of copper-zinc base alloys (brass) | Free-3% | Free | Free | Free | 4.8% | 3% |
| 7408.22 | Of copper alloys: of copper-nickel base alloys (cupro-nickel) or copper-nickel-zinc base alloys (nickel-silver) | 2.5-3% | Free | Free | Free | 4.8% | 3% |
| 7408.29 | Of copper alloys: other | 2.5-3% | Free | Free | Free | 4.8% | 3% |
| 74.09 | Copper plates, sheets and strip, of a thickness exceeding 0.15 mm | ||||||
| 7409.11 | Of refined copper: in coils | Free | Free | Free | Free | 4.8% | 3% |
| 7409.19 | Of refined copper: other | Free | Free | Free | Free | 4.8% | 3% |
| 7409.21 | Of copper-zinc base alloys (brass): in coils | Free | Free | Free | Free | 4.8% | 3% |
| 7409.29 | Of copper-zinc base alloys (brass): other | Free | Free | Free | Free | 4.8% | 3% |
| 7409.31 | Of copper-tin base alloys (bronze): in coils | Free | Free | Free | Free | 4.8% | 3% |
| 7409.39 | Of copper-tin base alloys (bronze): other | Free | Free | Free | Free | 4.8% | 3% |
| 7409.40 | Of copper-nickel base alloys (cupro-nickel) or copper-nickel-zinc base alloys (nickel-silver) | Free | Free | Free | Free | 4.8% | 3% |
| 7409.90 | Of other copper alloys | Free | Free | Free | Free | 4.8% | 3% |
| 74.10 | Copper foil (whether or not printed or backed with paper, paperboard, plastics or similar backing materials), of a thickness (excluding any backing) not exceeding 0.15 mm | ||||||
| 7410.11 | Not backed: of refined copper | Free | Free | Free | Free | 5.2% | 3% |
| 7410.12 | Not backed: of copper alloys | Free | Free | Free | Free | 5.2% | 3% |
| 7410.21 | Backed: of refined copper | Free | Free | Free | Free | 5.2% | 3% |
| 7410.22 | Backed: of copper alloys | Free | Free | Free | Free | 5.2% | 3% |
| 74.11 | Copper tubes and pipes | ||||||
| 7411.10 | Of refined copper | 2.5% | Free | Free | Free | 4.8% | 3% |
| 7411.21 | Of copper alloys: of copper-zinc base alloys (brass) | 2% | Free | Free | Free | 4.8% | 3% |
| 7411.22 | Of copper alloys: of copper-nickel base alloys (cupro-nickel) or copper-nickel-zinc base alloys (nickel-silver) | 2.5% | Free | Free | Free | 4.8% | 3% |
| 7411.29 | Of copper alloys: other | 2.5% | Free | Free | Free | 4.8% | 3% |
| 74.12 | Copper tube or pipe fittings (for example, couplings, elbows, sleeves) | ||||||
| 7412.10 | Of refined copper | 3% | Free | Free | Free | 5.2% | Free |
| 7412.20 | Of copper alloys | 3% | Free | Free | Free | 5.2% | Free |
| 74.13 | Stranded wire, cables, plaited bands and the like, of copper, not electrically insulated | 3% | Free | Free | Free | 5.2% | 3% |
| 74.15 | Nails, tacks, drawing pins, staples (other than those of heading 83.05) and similar articles, of copper or of iron or steel with heads of copper; screws, bolts, nuts, screw hooks, rivets, cotters, cotter-pins, washers (including spring washers) and similar articles, of copper | ||||||
| 7415.10 | Nails and tacks, drawing pins staples and similar articles | 2.5% | Free | Free | Free | 4% | Free |
| 7415.21 | Other articles, not threaded: washers (including spring washers) | 3% | Free | Free | Free | 3% | Free |
| 7415.29 | Other articles, not threaded: other | 3% | Free | Free | Free | 3% | Free |
| 7415.33 | Other threaded articles: screws; bolts and nuts | Free-3% | Free | Free | Free | 3% | Free |
| 7415.39 | Other threaded articles: other | 3% | Free | Free | Free | 3% | Free |
| 74.18 | Table, kitchen or other household articles and parts thereof, of copper; pot scourers and scouring or polishing pads, gloves and the like of copper; sanitary ware and parts thereof, of copper | ||||||
| 7418.11 | Pot scourers and scouring or polishing pads, gloves and the like | 3% | Free | Free | Free | 3% | Free |
| 7418.19 | Other | 3% | Free | Free | Free | 3-4% | Free |
| 7418.20 | Sanitary ware and parts thereof | 3% | Free | Free | Free | 3% | Free |
| 74.19 | Other articles of copper | ||||||
| 7419.10 | Chain and parts thereof | 3% | Free | Free | Free | 3% | Free |
| 7419.91 | Other: cast, moulded, stamped or forged, but not further worked | Free-3% | Free | Free | Free | 3% | Free |
| 7419.99 | Other: other | Free-9.5% | Free-5% | Free | Free | 3-4.3% | Free |
Sources: Canadian Customs Tariff, effective January 2010, Canada Border Services Agency; Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, 2010; Official Journal of the European Union (Tariff Information), October 31, 2009 edition; Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan, 2010.
GPT General Preferential Tariff; MFN Most Favoured Nation; WTO World Trade Organization.
(1) The customs duties applicable to imported goods originating in countries that are Contracting Parties to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade or with which the European Community has concluded agreements containing the most-favoured-nation tariff clause shall be the conventional duties shown in column 3 of the Schedule of Duties. (2) WTO rate is shown; lower tariff rates may apply circumstantially.
Sources: Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada.
– Nil; . . Not available; . . . Amount too small to be expressed; n.a. Not applicable; n.e.s. Not elsewhere specified; (p) Preliminary.
(1) Copper contained in concentrates produced. (2) Anode copper recovered in Canada from domestic concentrates plus exports of payable copper in concentrate and matte. (3) Imports from "Other countries" may include re-imports from Canada.
Notes: HS Code change from 7401.10 and 7401.20 to 7401.00.00 as of 2007. HS Code change from 7401.10 to 7401.00.00.10 as of 2007. HS Code change from 7401.20 to 7401.00.00.20 as of 2007. HS Code change from 7414.20, 7414.90 and 7416.00 to 7419.99.90.90 as of 2007. Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.
| Production | Exports | Imports | Use | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shipments (2) | scope="row" Refinery Output | Concentrates and Matte (6) | Refined (5) | Total (4) | Refined (7) | Refined (3) | |
| (tonnes) | |||||||
| 1988 | 758 478 | 528 723 | 348 404 | 268 680 | 617 084 | 4 660 | 236 281 |
| 1989 | 704 432 | 515 216 | 348 811 | 321 690 | 670 501 | 4 408 | 213 046 |
| 1990 | 771 433 | 515 835 | 374 875 | 335 941 | 710 816 | 2 611 | 180 605 |
| 1991 | 780 362 | 538 339 | 348 080 | 377 985 | 726 065 | 2 321 | 159 170 |
| 1992 | 761 694 | 539 302 | 346 842 | 385 761 | 732 603 | 8 916 | 156 132 |
| 1993 | 709 650 | 561 580 | 319 840 | 408 364 | 728 204 | 21 155 | 185 565 |
| 1994 | 590 784 | 549 869 | 237 553 | 388 568 | 626 121 | 19 594 | 199 350 |
| 1995 | 700 843 | 572 616 | 274 492 | 434 691 | 709 183 | 24 176 | 189 550 |
| 1996 | 652 499 | 559 200 | 409 578 | 384 337 | 793 915 | 28 700 | 218 280 |
| 1997 | 647 779 | 560 582 | 515 547 | 381 475 | 897 023 | 22 602 | 224 776 |
| 1998 | 690 762 | 562 261 | 433 685 | 355 826 | 789 511 | 18 685 | 246 212 |
| 1999 | 581 583 | 548 563 | 355 839 | 294 107 | 649 946 | 16 475 | 266 504 |
| 2000 | 621 889 | 551 393 | 426 007 | 288 334 | 714 341 | 11 875 | 272 076 |
| 2001 | 614 312 | 567 720 | 359 634 | 308 898 | 668 531 | 7 994 | 265 210 |
| 2002 | 584 195 | 494 522 | 311 920 | 238 117 | 550 036 | 11 692 | 274 133 |
| 2003 | 540 998 | 454 866 | 196 538 | 218 810 | 415 349 | 21 712 | 257 338 |
| 2004 | 544 558 | 526 955 | 180 910 | 279 741 | 460 651 | 53 336 | 297 184 |
| 2005 | 577 304 | 515 223 | 275 281 | 296 958 | 572 238 | 64 638 | 289 721 |
| 2006 | 586 489 | 500 463 | 288 939 | 279 946 | 568 885 | 58 715 | 300 567 |
| 2007 | 577 545 | 453 453 | 219 814 | 297 713 | 517 528 | 11 716 | 206 048 |
| 2008 | 584 003 | 442 050 | 352 395 | 289 991 | 642 386 | 11 653 | . . |
| 2009 (p) | 480 380 | 335 052 | 257 762 | 221 641 | 479 403 | 10 566 | . . |
Sources: Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada.
. . Not available; (p) Preliminary.
(1) Beginning in 1988, exports and imports are based on the new Harmonized System and may not be in complete accordance with previous method of reporting. (2) From 1975 to 1988, anode copper recovered in Canada from domestic concentrate plus exports of payable copper in concentrates and matte. Starting in 1989 to date, recoverable copper in concentrate shipped. (3) Producers' domestic shipments of refined copper plus imports of refined shapes. (4) Data include HS Codes 2603.00.10, 2604.00.00.10, 2607.00.00.10, 2608.00.00.10, 2616.10.00.10, 7401.10, and 7401.20. (5) Data include HS Codes 7403.11 to 7403.19. (6) Data included HS Code 2603.00.10, 2604.00.00.10, 2607.00.00.10, 2608.00.00.10 and 2616.10.00.10. (7) Data include HS Codes 7403.11 to 7403.19.
Notes: Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding. The Use survey is curently suspended by Natural Resources Canada.