Copper ingots exports from Zambia: data, top buyers and prices
Exports of copper ingots by Zambia reached $2.52 billion in 2024 (279.9 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 10th largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 150 countries. That is 15% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2022, at $3.56 billion.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2.52B | 279.9K t |
| 2023 | $2.95B | 341.1K t |
| 2022 | $3.56B | 388.2K t |
| 2021 | $3.06B | 321.8K t |
| 2020 | $2.08B | 324.9K t |
| 2019 | $1.80B | 361.9K t |
| 2018 | $3.19B | 489.0K t |
| 2017 | $3.02B | 1.58M t |
Where Zambia exports copper ingots to
The largest buyer markets were Switzerland (36%), China (27%), United Arab Emirates (10%). Among the main buyer markets, United Arab Emirates grew fastest (+158% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | $897.0M | 36% |
| China | $683.5M | 27% |
| United Arab Emirates | $243.5M | 9.7% |
| South Africa | $120.2M | 4.8% |
| India | $107.1M | 4.3% |
| Saudi Arabia | $97.5M | 3.9% |
| Egypt | $62.0M | 2.5% |
| Taiwan | $61.8M | 2.5% |
| Singapore | $45.9M | 1.8% |
| Pakistan | $41.7M | 1.7% |
Product types under HS 7403
| 7403.11 | Copper: refined, unwrought, cathodes and sections of cathodes | 89% |
| 7403.19 | Refined copper other forms | 11% |
| 7403.29 | Copper alloy ingots other | 0.6% |
| 7403.21 | Brass ingots | 0% |
| 7403.22 | Bronze ingots | 0% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 7403.
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $9.01 per kg, close to the world average of $9.12.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Copper ingots imports to Zambia
Zambia imported $1.4 million of copper ingots in 2024 (153 tonnes). One supplier dominates: Canada accounted for 60% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Canada grew fastest (+56% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | $856K | 60% |
| DR Congo | $309K | 22% |
| South Africa | $259K | 18% |
| India | $2K | 0.2% |
| China | $2K | 0.1% |
| Germany | $1K | 0% |
| Botswana | $0K | 0% |
| Brazil | $0K | 0% |
| Italy | $0K | 0% |
| Belgium | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in Zambia?
The shipment records behind Zambia copper ingots exports (HS 7403): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 7403: Copper; refined and copper alloys, unwrought.
Common questions
What is the value of copper ingots exported by Zambia?
Zambia exported copper ingots worth $2.52 billion in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 279.9 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 10th of 150 countries worldwide, with 3% of world exports. The value was down 15% on 2023.
Which countries buy copper ingots from Zambia?
Switzerland was the largest buyer with 36% of the value ($897.0 million), followed by China (27%) and the United Arab Emirates (10%). The top three together account for 72%, out of 27 buyer countries in total. The United Arab Emirates grew fastest among the top ten, up 158% on the year.
What is the average export price of copper ingots per kg?
The average declared export value was about $9.01 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $9.12 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have exports of copper ingots from Zambia changed since 2017?
Exports went from $3.02 billion in 2017 to $2.52 billion in 2024, a fall of 17%. The peak was 2022 at $3.56 billion. Over 8 years the average was $2.77 billion a year.
Does Zambia also import copper ingots?
Yes. Zambia imported $1.4 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Canada, the DR Congo and South Africa. On balance Zambia is a net exporter of this product, by about $2.52 billion a year.
What is the HS code for copper ingots?
The HS code for copper ingots is heading 7403. In Zambia the largest six-digit codes were 7403.11 (89% of the value) and 7403.19 (11%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; EximDataX adds the company names by reading partner countries' customs records for Zambia. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
Copper ingots product types in Zambia
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