BRAZIL EXPORTS SEP 2012: Sharp drop in copper cathode exports

Brazil’s refined copper cathode exports dropped in September to about one-seventh of their level in the same month last year, according to the country’s trade ministry.

Brazil’s refined copper cathode exports dropped in September to about one-seventh of their level in the same month last year, according to the country’s trade ministry.

The country reported exports of only 548 tonnes this September, compared with 3,765 tonnes in September 2011.

Practically no cathode exports were registered in August and only 770 tonnes were shipped to other countries in July.

For the January-September period, cathode exports fell 80.5% year-on-year, to 8,647 tonnes

Copper cathode export revenues totalled $4.3 million in September, against $37.6 million for the same month in 2011.

The Netherlands and Argentina were the only buyers reported by the ministry in September 2012, acquiring 496 tonnes and 51 tonnes, respectively.

China, which reported shipments of 1,066 tonnes last September, made no purchases last month.

More than 99% of the copper cathode shipped came from Dias D’Ávila, in the north-eastern Brazilian state of Bahia, where copper producer Paranapanema has an operation.

No exports of copper mattes and cement copper were registered this September.

Carolina Guerra 
cguerra@metalbulletin.com
Twitter: #!/cguerra_mb

What to read next
Navigating market volatility with data-driven strategies for resilient mining operations
The publication of several of Fastmarkets' copper concentrates indices was delayed on Friday February 27 because of a technical error. Fastmarkets' pricing database has been updated.
Discover how fear, deglobalization and AI are transforming the copper market. Insights from the Fast Forward podcast's interview with David Lilley of Drakewood Capital.
Fastmarkets has corrected its MB-BX-0016 Bauxite, cif China, price assessment, which was published incorrectly on Friday February 20.
Fastmarkets invited feedback from the industry on the pricing methodology for its non-ferrous materials and industrial minerals prices, via an open consultation process between January 6 and February 6. This consultation was done as part of our published annual methodology review process.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) state-controlled Entreprise Générale du Cobalt (EGC) announced its first copper and cobalt shipments to Swiss traders Trafigura and Mercuria on Monday February 9, with Trafigura using the Lobito Corridor to transport commodities.