1. Overseas industrial trends

Driven by the expansion of the electric vehicle, renewable energy, and semiconductor industries, global copper demand maintained a robust upward trend in Q3 2025.
Korea is enhancing its export competitiveness, focusing on copper foil, cable, and copper alloy products, and expanding its market share in eco-friendly, high-efficiency power materials.
This information is directly utilized to manage non-ferrous metal price fluctuations, supply chain risks, and develop materials independence strategies .

 

2. Major export items (based on intermediate classification HS)

South Korea's copper exports consist of refined copper (cathode), copper rods and wires, copper foil, and wires
. This data provides insight into the technological level and profit structure of industrial and material copper products.

division

HS code

Representative items

Strategy Points

Refined CopperHS 7403Electrolytic refining copper cathodeGlobal LME price-linked exports
Copper bars/wiresHS 7407~7408wire, enclosedFocusing on high-quality products for power and communications
Foils/AlloysHS 7410~7411Copper foil and copper alloy pipe for secondary batteriesExpanding EV battery and semiconductor materials
3. Major exporting countries (size and characteristics by country)

Key export destinations include manufacturing hubs in Asia and the US and EU markets, where the power and electronics industries are concentrated.
By understanding demand patterns and price sensitivities by country, we can optimize our export targeting strategy.

Country/Region

Strong items

Market characteristics

Implications

chinaRefined copper, wireHigh dependence on imports and price sensitivityShort-term trading volatility risk management is necessary.
japancopper rod, alloyStable demand for semiconductor and automotive materialsLong-term supply contracts are advantageous
USAwire, copper foilExpanding electric vehicle and solar infrastructureExpanding Investment Opportunities in the North American Power Grid
Europe (EU)copper alloy productsStrengthening recycling and ESG standardsSupply of low-carbon products is essential
4. Production volume / exportable volume

Copper products account for over 30% of domestic non-ferrous metal production, and the country boasts a global top-five competitiveness in refined copper and copper foil.
This data is used to estimate domestic production capacity and export potential .

item

Number/estimate

unit

note

Annual production volumeAbout 1.15 million tonstonIntegrated standards for refining and alloying
Exportable quantityAbout 0.48 million tons (42%)tonReflecting domestic demand and inventory
Main production areasUlsan, Gwangyang, OnsanregionConcentrated electrolytic refining and processing facilities
5. Quality standards

Only products that meet international standards and the criteria for challenge and purity are eligible for premium market access.
Exporters can secure a price premium by obtaining LME grades and ISO certification .

field

Main specifications

note

refined copperLME Grade A (99.99%)International Trade Standard Specification
copper wireIEC 60228 / KS C 3106Conductivity and heat resistance standards
Copper foil and alloyASTM B280, ISO 1634Quality standards for batteries and electronic materials
6. Authentication

International certifications related to quality, environment, and safety are crucial for securing trust in transactions with global materials companies.

division

Certification name

Applicable area

Quality controlISO 9001 / IATF 16949Automotive and electronic materials sectors
Environment/ESGISO 14001 / ISO 45001Europe and the United States
Industrial Safety and RecyclingISO 50001 / UL ECOLOGOResponding to ESG procurement standards
7. Logistics conditions

Copper is subject to significant weight and price volatility, making logistics efficiency and insurance risk management key.
This information is used to design pricing strategies based on FOB/CIF terms .

Product group

means of transportation

Lead time

Key Risks

Refined copper cathodeMarine bulk15 to 25 daysFreight and exchange rate risks
copper wireContainer (20'/40')10 to 20 daysPackaging damage and moisture
Copper foil and alloy productsSpecial packaging for air or sea5 to 15 daysOxidation and temperature management
8. Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)

MOQ data is used as a baseline indicator for establishing production, logistics, and contract unit plans.

Product group

MOQ

unit

characteristic

Refined copper cathode25 tonstonLME trading standards
Copper rods and wires10 tonstonLarge B2B contracts
Copper foil and alloys2 tonstonHigh value-added R&D-type small-scale exports
9. Data Deepening

It provides comprehensive in-depth indicators, including unit prices, tariffs, and ESG risks, for use in market strategy and risk analysis.

cord

item

example

conjugation

(A)Unit price · Transaction price rangeUSD 8,200 ~ 9,100 / tonLME Linkage Analysis
(B)seasonalityQ3 Construction and Power Investment Demand ExpandsAdjust delivery and production plans
(C)Tariff and Non-Tariff InformationEU 0%, India 5%Price competitiveness evaluation by market
(D)Domestic alternative industriesExpanding trend of non-ferrous recyclingCarbon-neutral supply chain
(E)ESG/Net Zero CorrelationDemand for low-carbon smelting technology is increasing.CBAM response indicators
(F)Country-specific risksChina 0.35, EU 0.18Export Risk Modeling
(G)Major BuyersSumitomo, Mitsubishi, LS CableCompanies subject to long-term contracts
10. Export Forecast Loop

We forecast short-term export prospects by comprehensively analyzing export fluctuations, price indices, and market share over a three-month period.

segment

ΔExport(%)

ΔPrice(%)

ΔCountryShare(pp)

TrustIndex (0–1)

3M Forecast

Refined copper (Cathode)+2.4%+0.7%+0.2 pp0.81Increased demand for electricity and EVs → Continued upward trend
Copper rods and wires+1.8%+0.4%+0.1 pp0.76Construction and infrastructure recovery
Copper foil and alloy+3.2%+1.1%+0.3 pp0.83Increasing demand for battery and semiconductor materials