China exported 1.667 million tons of copper semi-finished products in 2025 (+29.8%), and its refining output grew 9.8% year on year — the world's largest copper processing base by a wide margin. PLS Precision sources T2/TU1/TP2 copper and H59/H62 brass rod, bar, plate, strip, tube, wire, and busbar from the Jiangxi Yingtan, Zhejiang Zhuji/Shaoxing, and Guangdong clusters, with LME-linked pricing and in-house CNC processing at our Dongguan factory.
Copper is in a structural bull market: LME cash copper broke $14,000/t in May 2026 (all-time high) before settling at $13,373.5/t on 24 June, and the ICSG revised its 2026 global balance from surplus to a 150,000-ton deficit (June 2026). Goldman Sachs projects a $13,349/t average for 2026 and $13,735/t by year-end.
China refined 13.32 million tons of copper in Jan-Nov 2025 (+9.8% YoY, NBS) and exported 1.667 million tons of semi-finished products in 2025 (+29.8%) — led by copper wire (+31.9% in H1), tube (+8.2%), and rod.
Rod, bar, plate, strip, tube, wire, busbar, and foil — in pure copper (T2/TU1/TP2), brass (H59-H68), and free-cutting alloys (HPb59-1) — all available from a single procurement channel.
Jiangxi Yingtan (RMB 520 billion cluster revenue), Zhejiang Zhuji/Shaoxing (~70% of national copper tube output), Ningbo, Tongling, and Guangdong cover every processing step within short logistics distances.
Pricing note: Chinese copper products lost their export VAT rebate in November 2024 (34 HS codes) — quotes now include full tax cost, and prices move with LME/SMM daily. PLS quotes FOB within 24 hours with the LME basis stated in the contract.
China's copper processing industry is organized into five major clusters (Mysteel daily quotes, Aug 2026):
| Cluster | Specialty | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Yingtan / Guixi (Jiangxi) | Largest copper cluster: rod, tube, busbar (Baotai, Hengji) | Revenue ~RMB 520 billion |
| Zhuji / Shaoxing (Zhejiang) | Copper tube benchmark; brass rod price-setter (HPb59-1 73,100 CNY/t, 2026-08-18) | ~70% of national copper tube output |
| Ningbo (Zhejiang) | Brass rod/tube makers (Changzhen, Jinlong, Haoyang) | HPb59-1 71,600-73,700 CNY/t |
| Tongling (Anhui) | Tongling Nonferrous base; rod and tube | HPb59-1 73,400 CNY/t (2026-08-18) |
| Guangdong (Guangzhou/Dongguan) | Busbar, rod, scrap-copper processing; close to PLS factory | T2 rod 111,200 CNY/t (2026-08-18) |
Sourcing tip: buy tube from Zhuji/Shaoxing, brass rod from Ningbo or Shaoxing, busbar and processed profiles from Guangdong — shorter logistics to South China ports (Shenzhen, Guangzhou) and direct access to PLS machining.
Copper pricing follows a simple formula: LME/SMM monthly average + processing fee. Typical processing fees (Mysteel): H59 rod +3,500-4,500 CNY/t; H62 rod +2,000-3,000; T2 strip/plate +3,700. FOB ranges below (converted from domestic prices, Aug 2026):
| Product | Specification | FOB Price (USD/t) |
|---|---|---|
| Electrolytic copper | 1# cathode, Shanghai 107,800 CNY/t (08-21) | ~$13,250 |
| T2 copper rod | Pure copper bar, 10-200 mm | $13,600 – $13,700 |
| H59 brass bar | HPb59-1 free-cutting, 5-120 mm | $8,800 – $9,100 |
| H62 brass bar | H62, 5-150 mm | $10,000 – $10,100 |
| T2 copper plate/strip | 0.5-100 mm thickness | $13,000 – $13,800 |
| H62 brass plate/strip | 0.3-60 mm | $9,200 – $10,400 |
| TP2 copper tube | R410A ACR tube, 6-76 mm | ~$13,850 |
| H62 brass tube | Round, 3-100 mm | $8,500 – $10,400 |
| Copper wire | OFHC / brass wire, 0.1-8 mm | ~$13,370 |
| T2 copper busbar | Flat bar 20-200 mm width | $12,900 – $13,300 |
All prices are as of 2026-08-20/21 and move with LME daily. For contract pricing, PLS fixes the LME month and processing fee separately so both sides share metal-price risk fairly.
Chinese copper grades map cleanly to international specs. The tables below show the standards and grade equivalences most buyers use:
| Standard | Scope |
|---|---|
| GB/T 5231 | Copper and brass grades and chemistry (China) |
| GB/T 2040 / 1527 / 4423 / 14954 | Plate/strip, tube, rod, wire |
| ASTM B16 / B36 / B280 | Free-cutting brass rod / brass plate-strip / ACR tube (US) |
| EN 12163 / 12166 / 12451 | Rod / wire / tube (EU) |
| JIS H3250 / H3300 | Brass rod / copper tube (Japan) |
T2 = C11000; TU1 = C10200 (OFHC); TP2 = C12200 (deoxidized); H59 = C28000; H62 = C27200; H65 = C26800; H68 = C26200; HPb59-1 = C37700 (free-cutting). Confirm the exact temper (M, Y2, Y, T) and hardness in your PO — the same grade in different tempers has different machinability and pricing.
Copper and brass products classify under HS Chapter 74:
Since November 2024, the 13% export VAT rebate is cancelled for 34 copper HS codes (including 7408 wire, 7409 plate/strip, 7411 tube). This adds ~13% to effective export cost vs pre-2024 — always confirm the quote includes full tax cost, and beware of unusually cheap quotes that skip the VAT obligation.
Packing: rods/bars in bundles with protective coating (brass needs anti-tarnish paper); plates/strip wrapped in kraft + VCI; tube in cartons or wooden crates; busbar individually sleeved. 20ft container ≈ 18-22 tons. Ningbo, Shanghai, and Shenzhen are the main export ports.
Copper trade policy changed significantly in 2025-2026. The current landscape:
| Market | Policy | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Section 232 (not 301): semi-finished 50% from 2025-08-01, adjusted to 25% from April 2026; refined copper 15% planned 2027, 30% 2028 | 25% duty on semi-finished; rising for refined |
| European Union | No unified AD on Chinese copper products; REACH compliance required | Standard MFN duty applies |
| India / others | BIS certification and other national quality certs may apply | Verify per country before quoting |
ASEAN and Middle East markets remain open at MFN or FTA rates and absorb the bulk of China's copper export growth (+29.8% in 2025). For US-bound orders, confirm the 10-digit HTSUS classification — the 232 rate differs by product form.
Copper is a high-value commodity where small deviations create large losses. Four risks PLS actively manages:
T2 sold as TU1, or brass with low copper content passing as H62. PLS requires mill certificates with chemistry, verifies density/conductivity samples, and commissions SGS/BV chemical analysis for critical orders.
Copper is sold by theoretical weight (density-based) in China. PLS clarifies the weighing method, verifies rod/bar dimensions (a 0.1 mm under-diameter means ~1% weight loss), and reconciles against port weighbridge data.
With copper at $13,000+/t, a 5% swing is $650/t. PLS quotes with an explicit LME basis and offers fixed-price or floating (LME month average) contracts, plus hedging advice for large programs.
Brass tarnishes quickly in humid weather, and rod can hide internal cracks from poor casting. PLS specifies anti-tarnish packaging, inspects surface at loading, and can arrange ultrasonic testing for critical bar stock.
PLS Precision combines copper material sourcing with precision machining — one partner from raw material to finished part:
Stock sizes of rod, bar, and tube typically start at 1-5 tons per size; plate/strip from 2 tons; busbar from 1 ton. Mill-direct production orders usually require 10-20 tons per specification. PLS consolidates small lots from multiple suppliers and adds machined parts to reach container-efficient volumes.
The standard formula is LME/SMM monthly average + processing fee. For example, H59 rod = copper cathode price + 3,500-4,500 CNY/t processing. You can lock a fixed price on the day of PO confirmation, or sign a floating contract based on the LME average of the shipping month — PLS supports both and states the basis explicitly in the contract.
T2 (C11000) is standard tough-pitch copper for general rod, plate, and busbar. TU1 (C10200) is oxygen-free copper for welding, electronics, and vacuum applications. TP2 (C12200) is phosphorus-deoxidized copper for tube and ACR (air conditioning) applications. TU1 and TP2 cost more than T2; specify the grade and verify with the mill certificate.
H59 (C28000) is the cheapest brass, fine for low-stress hardware and fittings. H62 (C27200) has better ductility and corrosion resistance for plumbing and electrical parts. T2 (C11000) is pure copper — highest conductivity, required for busbar, terminals, and RF parts. Free-cutting HPb59-1 (C37700) machines fastest for CNC turning, at a small premium.
Copper falls under Section 232, not 301: semi-finished products carried 50% from 2025-08-01, adjusted to 25% from April 2026, with refined copper planned at 15% in 2027 and 30% in 2028. Confirm your product's 10-digit HTSUS classification — rates differ by form (wire, plate, tube, fittings).
Since November 2024, 34 copper HS codes no longer receive the 13% export VAT rebate, adding roughly 13% to effective export cost. Reputable exporters quote prices that include the full tax cost; suspiciously cheap quotes usually mean the VAT obligation is being skipped — a customs risk at destination. PLS quotes with full tax included.
Yes. PLS cuts rod and bar to length, machines custom busbar, terminals, and fittings, and fabricates complete copper assemblies at Sinbo's Dongguan factory (518 CNC machines). You receive finished parts instead of raw material — saving freight on scrap and reducing your local processing cost.
Stock sizes: 1-2 weeks production + 3-5 weeks sea freight. Mill production: 3-5 weeks. Custom machined parts add 2-4 weeks depending on complexity. Total typical timeline: 4-10 weeks. Given daily LME moves, PLS recommends confirming the order within 7 days of quotation for the price to hold.
Tell us the grade (T2/TU1/TP2/H59/H62), form (rod, plate, tube, wire, busbar), sizes, and quantity — we'll quote LME-linked FOB within 24 hours with full certification.
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