I. What is copper concentrate?
Copper (chemical symbol Cu), a Group IB element in the periodic table, is a transition metal. Pure copper exhibits a distinctive purple-red hue. This malleable metal demonstrates exceptional ductility and electrical conductivity. While chemically stable in dry air, copper reacts with moisture and carbon dioxide in humid environments, forming a characteristic green patina (verdigris). Copper finds extensive applications across multiple industries including electrical engineering, electronics, mechanical manufacturing, construction, and transportation infrastructure. In nature, copper primarily occurs in mineral ores rather than in native form. Through mineral processing and beneficiation, these ores yield copper concentrate - the enriched product containing elevated copper content.
With electrical conductivity surpassed only by silver, copper serves as the primary material for manufacturing electrical wires, cables, and copper piping systems. Copper can be alloyed with metals such as zinc, tin, lead, nickel, aluminum, and titanium to create engineering materials with diverse properties. For instance, brass (copper-zinc alloy) exhibits excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, making it ideal for valves and pipe fittings. Bronze (copper-tin alloy), known for its high hardness and wear resistance, is widely used in art casting and mechanical components. Meanwhile, cupronickel (copper-nickel alloy), prized for its superior seawater corrosion resistance, finds extensive applications in shipbuilding and desalination equipment.
II. What are the applicable laws and regulations governing copper concentrate imports?
Key national regulations concerning copper concentrate imports include the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection" and the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection".
III. What documents are required for the customs declaration of imported copper concentrate?
1. Packing list, contract, commercial invoice, and ocean bill of lading for the imported goods.
2. For contracts involving secondary settlement, provide the pricing basis (including formula parameters), valuation period, settlement period, applicable discounts, composition percentages, and quantity details that affect pricing. Additionally, include documentation specifying the customs port of entry, declaring customs office, batch numbers, and quantity arrangements.
3. Third-party inspection reports (weight certificates, quality certificates, etc.) for the copper concentrate issued by accredited agencies in the country of origin.
4. Automatic import license and supplementary materials as required.
IV. Key considerations for copper concentrate declaration
1. Processing method: Indicate the beneficiation techniques applied to the raw ore (e.g., crushing, grinding, magnetic separation, gravity separation, flotation, or screening).
2. Composition content: Specify the percentage of primary metallic elements present. Special note: Priority must be given to declaring the concentration of value-determining elements such as copper, gold, silver, and sulfur.
3. Source (Country of Origin and Mine Name): Indicates the country of origin of the copper concentrate and the specific mine where it was produced.
4. Pricing Method: When filing the declaration, please specify whether the pricing method is formula-based pricing or spot price settlement. For formula pricing, the formula pricing filing procedures must be completed in accordance with the "GACC Announcement on Issues Concerning the Determination of Dutiable Value for Formula-Priced Imported Goods" (GACC Announcement No. 44 [2021]), and the filing status must be declared in the remarks column. If demurrage fees are incurred during trade, supplementary notes must also be provided in the remarks column of the customs declaration form.
V. How Does Customs Conduct Statutory Inspection of Imported Copper Concentrate?
Customs statutory inspection of imported copper concentrate consists of two stages: on-site inspection and laboratory testing.
1. What Are the Key Focus Areas of On-Site Customs Inspection?
Customs officers will oversee the entire unloading process of imported copper concentrates in accordance with the inspection management system directives. Key on-site inspection priorities include verifying radiation levels for compliance, detecting any prohibited items or foreign contaminants, and ensuring cargo documentation matches the actual shipment. For containerized shipments, a thorough verification of container numbers and seal numbers must be conducted.
Please note that imported copper concentrates are excluded from the 'release-before-inspection' regulatory scheme applicable to certain mineral products. Mineral products may only be released from customs-controlled premises upon receiving satisfactory laboratory test results.
2. What are the primary testing parameters in customs laboratory examinations?
Laboratory testing comprises two main categories: 'environmental compliance tests' and 'quality specification tests'.
The "Environmental Protection Items" testing is conducted by Customs in accordance with the "Announcement on Publishing the Limits of Toxic and Harmful Elements in Imported Copper Concentrate" (Announcement No. 106 [2017] of AQSIQ, MEP, and MOFCOM) jointly issued by the former General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, the former Ministry of Environmental Protection, and the Ministry of Commerce. This testing covers toxic and harmful elements including lead (Pb), arsenic (As), fluorine (F), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg), with test results required to comply with the specified limits in the announcement.
The "Quality Items" testing refers to the process where Customs, upon request from enterprises, conducts quality inspections on items such as copper, gold, and silver, subsequently issuing a quality certificate.
VI. What constitutes short weight in imported copper concentrate?
Short weight in imported copper concentrate occurs when the actual weight of the goods is less than either the contractual agreement or the declared weight on the customs declaration form. The primary causes of weight shortage include moisture loss during transit, loading losses, deliberate underloading by certain trade intermediaries, or engagement of disreputable third-party inspection agencies to falsify weight reports.
In accordance with the "Announcement on Adjusting Supervision Methods for Weight Verification of Imported Bulk Commodities" (GACC Announcement No. 159 [2019]), customs authorities conduct weight verification of imported mineral products upon enterprise application. For imported copper concentrate, weight verification primarily employs weighing instruments. The process involves port cranes rapidly loading mineral powder from ship holds via grab buckets onto trucks, which are then weighed on platform scales before transport to customs-supervised areas. Upon identifying any weight discrepancies, customs officers promptly issue Weight Certificates to support domestic enterprises in pursuing international claims.
(By Feng Guoqing and Sui Minghao)
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of China Inspection and Quarantine Times. The China Inspection and Quarantine Times version shall prevail.
