Scrap copper imports by China may continue to rise by about 8 percent annually in the next two years, an industry official said.

The imports may rise to 6.5 million metric tons in 2009 from an estimated 6 million tons this year, and to 7 million tons in 2010, Wang Ming, vice general manager of Zhejiang Hailiang Co., said at a conference in Shanghai yesterday, citing research from General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals. Zhejiang Hailiang, one of China's top three makers of copper tubes, uses scrap copper to make bar products.

(Shanghai Daily November 4, 2008)