Unwrought Copper and Copper Imports of Ningbo Port Surge from January till July  

According to statistics of Ningbo Customs, from January till July, the imports of unwrought copper and copper products (hereinafter referred to as "copper") of Ningbo port was 126,000 tons with the import value of 840 million U.S. dollars, which grew 43.8 percent and 1.3 times respectively compared with the same period of last year. The average import price was 6,697 U.S. dollars per ton, and rose by 59.5 percent from 4,199 U.S. dollars last year. Main characteristics are as follows:

I. The import prices fell month on month for two consecutive months. Since the drop of 8.2% month on month in June, the average price of Ningbo copper imports decreased again by 3.6% month on month to 6,435 U.S. dollars in July.

II. The ordinary trade is the main mode of import trade. From January till July Ningbo port imported 105,000 tons copper in ordinary trade, an increase of 33.9%, accounting for 83.3% of the total imports.

III. Import by private enterprises accounted for the major force. The private enterprises imported 101,000 tons copper from January till July, an increase of 73.6%, accounting for 80.2% of the total imports.

IV. Chile, the European Union and Australia are the first three largest sources of import. From January till July, copper imports of Ningbo port from Chile and the EU was 33,000 tons and 16,000 tons, up 87.4% and 19.6% respectively, while that from Australia was 13,000 tons ,with 2.6 times increase compare with the same period of last year. The quantity from the three import sources accounted for 49.2% of the total imports.