Pakistan’s copper exports to China exceed $1.14 billion
Wire desk byline Sourced from Xinhua, Dawn, Arab News, Anadolu and Minute Mirror. Translated and abridged by the GSRRA Desk.
Refined shipments lead growth as mineral trade with China broadens
Pakistan’s copper and copper-based exports to China surpassed $1.14 billion in 2025, according to China’s General Administration of Customs data, highlighting strong demand from Chinese manufacturing and clean-energy sectors.
Exports of copper ores and concentrates to China also rose, exceeding $11 million during the year, underscoring the metal’s role in power grids, electronics and related industries.
Trade figures show that Pakistan’s mineral export basket to China has diversified. Shipments of zinc ores and concentrates reached $110.90 million, while chromium ores and concentrates totalled $89.43 million in 2025. Aluminium ores and concentrates increased by 4700%, going from $0.29 million to $14.16 million.
Other mineral exports included aluminium and articles thereof valued at $30.35 million, supporting downstream manufacturing demand in China.
Industry officials said that a substantial portion of copper exports comprises refined copper ingots, with a smaller share coming directly from mining output. Refineries in cities such as Gujranwala process imported inputs and convert them into finished copper products for export.
Pakistan and China are coordinating on inventory and supply-chain arrangements, with the aim of increasing copper exports to between $3 billion and $4 billion through greater value addition. Analysts say future growth will depend on investment in mineral processing, quality certification and environmentally responsible mining practices.
Reference Link:- https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/01/28/pakistan-copper-exports-to-china-exceed-1-14-billion/
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
