Increase In Domestic Output Likely To Pull Down Copper Imports

Increasing domestic production due to a major expansion drive by the copper industry may sharply pull down imports of copper in 2001-02.

According to analysts, however, demand of the commodity is expected to rise by 8-10 per cent only due to stagnant demand in the automobiles and telecommunications sector.

According to commodity analysts, since leading domestic copper producers are on an expansion drive, it would increase output, and imports of refined copper would come down in 2001-02 (April-March) to 25,000-30,000 tonne from an estimated 45,000 to 50,000 tonne in the current year.

Two leading producers of copper in the country