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The exports, which were not reflected in Chinese data, raise hopes that China may be removing the ban imposed after Australian calls for an inquiry into the origin of Covid-19.

Until late 2020, Australia supplied China with around 80,000 tons of copper concentrate a month, accounting for 5% of China’s total imports.

China has been gradually easing tariffs and unofficial bans against a range of Australian commodities since a new government came to power in Canberra in 2022.

Reuters reported in November that Swiss commodity trader Trafigura had agreed to help Chinese smelters clear imports of copper concentrate from Australia.

Despite the wider easing, state-owned Chinese smelters that turn concentrate into copper metal had remained reluctant to buy from Australia.

Australian customs records show that Australia also exported to China 10,594 tons of copper concentrate in September 2022 and 10,934 tons in January 2023.

Chinese customs do not show any imports from Australia of more than a few kilograms since June 2021, when 11,404 tons was recorded as entering from Australia, according to data accessed using Trade Data Monitor.