The manufacture of rolled copper by Russian works is based on domestic consumption and almost does not depend on external factors (LME cathode prices, world industry growth rates, etc.).
According to the Institute Tsvetmetobrabotka CEO Yuri Raikov, in 2014-2017 copper exports dropped 2-fold, while imports – by 35-40%.
The share of the competitive products in the exports is just 2-3% of the output volume.
Copper cathode and wire rod account for over 95% of the Russian exports, while some 70% of imports fall on pipes and fittings.
Under the low competitiveness, the rolled copper manufacture will be defined by the domestic demand, he said. (Ukrainian metal)