The "Green Code" of Circular Economy in the Copper Industry

As a veteran with 20 years of experience in foreign trade, I have witnessed the transformation of China's copper industry from reliance on primary ores to recycling. I remember in 2018, when helping a client import their first batch of recycled copper, it was held up at customs for a full two weeks—all because the impurity content exceeded the limit by just 0.2%. Nowadays, with the implementation of new regulations such as the "Inspection Rules for Imported Recycled Copper Raw Materials," industry standards have become increasingly clear. However, many companies still "step on landmines" due to unfamiliarity with the rules.

Recycled copper raw materials can be divided into three main categories by form:

• Copper wire: Bare copper wire with diameter ≥1mm, commonly found in disassembled cables
• Copper granules: Granular copper with diameter 1-6mm, requiring crushing and sorting
• Mixed copper scrap: Non-wire non-alloy copper scrap

The "Seven Checkpoints" of Customs Inspection

Last year, a clients $3 million container was held at Ningbo Port because of a forgotten fire extinguisher—which counts as prohibited pressurized containers. According to new regulations, customs inspections mainly focus on:

• Radioactivity testing: γ-ray dose rate ≤0.5μSv/h
• Hazardous substance screening: Zero tolerance for explosives and sealed containers
• Composition analysis: Copper content ≥97% for wire, ≥98% for granules
• Impurity control: Must not exceed 0.8% of total weight
• Coating restrictions: Raw materials with non-metallic coatings ≤5%
• Hazardous waste: Proportion ≤0.01%
• Apparent characteristics: Must match declared category

The "blood and tears lessons" of failing to clear customs.

Among last years cases, the top three reasons for return shipments were:

1. A Southeast Asian supplier declared copper alloy as pure copper (actual content only 92%)
2. Residual lubricant barrels found in the corner of the container (hazardous waste exceeding limits).
3. Radiation testing revealed some copper pieces with γ values reaching 0.6μSv/h

Specifically reminded:Mixed loading of different material categoriesis a frequent violation. One client mixed copper wire and granules, resulting in the entire container being required for sorting, incurring additional demurrage fees of 80,000 yuan.

Practical Advice for Purchasers

• Source control: Require suppliers to provide MSDS and pre-processing videos
• Pre-shipment inspection: Recommend third-party SGS testing
• Certificate management：The customs declaration form must specify detailed categories such as "recycled copper wire."
• Emergency Plan: Reserve 10% buffer time for customs clearance

Recently, when helping a Shanghai cable factory import 200 tons of copper granules, radioactive pre-testing detected three abnormal copper pieces that were promptly replaced, ultimately clearing customs three days ahead of schedule. This proves again:Professional preparation is the best "speed booster" for success..

With the advancement of China's "dual carbon" goals, the import volume of recycled copper is expected to exceed 2 million tons by 2025. By mastering these detailed rules, your enterprise can seize the initiative in the wave of the green economy. If you have any specific questions, feel free to discuss them at any time!