Beijing: China imported 10,104 metric tons of copper ore and concentrate Australia Last month, 2023 volumes brought total volumes to the highest level since June 2021, customs data showed on Saturday, as Beijing eased an unofficial ban on Australian imports.
China has gradually reduced tariffs and unofficial sanctions against a range of Australian goods since the new government came to power canberra In 2022.
Australian import curbs in 2020 at the height of the diplomatic dispute over trade and security brought copper imports from Australia to zero in December 2020, from a monthly average of 72,430 tonnes for the first 11 months of that year.
Chinese customs data shows Australia imported 11,404 tonnes of copper in 2021, falling to just 7 kg in 2022 and 1 kg in the first 11 months of 2023.
Australian customs data showed it exported 27,500 metric tons of copper ores and concentrates worth $44.5 million to China in November, the most for any month since China imposed unofficial restrictions in 2020.
Analysts said it was possible the November shipment from Australia arrived in China in December and therefore appeared in China customs data last month.
Reuters reported in November that Swiss commodities trader Trafigura It was agreed to help Chinese smelters supplement imports of copper concentrate from Australia.