China's recycled copper production is expected to reach 3.5 million tonnes per year by 2020, up 9% from 2017, according to Zhang Xizhong, vice president of the recycling branch of China's non-ferrous metals association CNMIA.
China processed about 3.2 million tonnes of recycled copper in 2017, Zhang told delegates at an annual industry conference late last week. In 2017, that recycled material accounted for about 35.7% of the country's total finished copper production. Recycled copper refers to copper cathodes produced from copper-containing materials, including waste copper, copper sludge, copper ash, or copper (alloy) rods produced directly from waste copper. "The proportion [of recycled copper in the total copper output in China] will increase further going forward on the base of accumulated raw materials - such as obsolete wire and...