Mining News -Preliminary data indicates that world ex-China usage increased by 0.4%; however Chinese apparent usage (currently representing almost 50% of world refined usage) remained essentially unchanged.

Chinese apparent usage (excluding changes in unreported stocks) also remained more or le ss unchanged as al though refined copper production increased by 5%, net imports of refined copper declined by 11%.

Among other major copper using countries, usage increased in India and Japan but declined in the United States, Germany and South Korea.