India Refined Copper HS7403 Import Data 2025 February Overview

India Refined Copper (HS 7403) 2025 February Import: Key Takeaways

Japan dominates India’s refined copper imports under HS Code 7403 in February 2025, supplying 69% of value and 68% of weight, confirming high-grade, stable-priced shipments. Thailand’s bulk imports suggest a lower-cost alternative, while Japan and Switzerland lead with premium quality. This analysis, based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database, highlights Japan’s critical role in India’s refined copper supply chain for February 2025.

India Refined Copper (HS 7403) 2025 February Import Background

What is HS Code 7403?

HS Code 7403 covers refined copper and copper alloys, unwrought, including cathodes, wire-bars, billets, and copper-nickel alloys. This product is critical for industries like electrical equipment, construction, and automotive manufacturing due to its high conductivity and corrosion resistance. Global demand remains stable, driven by infrastructure development and renewable energy projects.

Current Context and Strategic Position

As of February 2025, India imposes a 5% basic customs duty, 18% IGST, and 10% social welfare surcharge on refined copper imports under HS Code 7403, resulting in a total duty burden of approximately 24.49% [Seair]. India’s reliance on refined copper imports highlights its strategic role in meeting domestic industrial demand, particularly for sectors like power and electronics. With no major policy shifts reported, market participants must monitor trade compliance and global price trends to navigate the India Refined Copper HS Code 7403 Import 2025 February landscape effectively.

India Refined Copper (HS 7403) 2025 February Import: Trend Summary

Key Observations

In February 2025, India's imports of Refined Copper under HS Code 7403 surged to $94.59 million in value and 3.75 million kg in volume, marking a dramatic increase from the previous month.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The month-over-month comparison reveals a massive spike from January's $8.16 million and negligible volume, indicating a sharp rebound in demand. This aligns with typical industry cycles for base metals like copper, where early-year stock replenishment often drives imports due to seasonal increases in construction and manufacturing activities post-winter lulls. The absence of year-over-year data limits broader trend analysis, but the MoM jump suggests robust internal demand dynamics.

External Context and Outlook

India's import policy for HS Code 7403 remained stable in early 2025, with basic customs duty at 5% and total levies around 24.49%, as confirmed by [Seair]. This policy consistency (Seair) implies that the February surge was not tariff-driven but likely stemmed from domestic industrial demand or global price fluctuations, supporting a steady outlook for India Refined Copper HS Code 7403 Import through 2025.

India Refined Copper (HS 7403) 2025 February Import: HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

India's import of Refined Copper under HS Code 7403 in February 2025 is dominated by cathodes and sections of cathodes, specifically under sub-code 74031100. According to yTrade data, this product accounts for over 90% of the import value and weight, with a unit price of 25.02 USD per kilogram. The high concentration in this bulk form indicates a focus on large-scale, standardized material. An extreme price anomaly is present in bronze alloys under 74032290, priced at 4579.86 USD per kilogram, which is isolated from the main analysis due to its outlier nature.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-anomalous imports can be grouped into two main categories: bulk refined copper and copper alloys. Bulk refined copper, including cathodes (74031100), other unwrought refined copper (74031900), and billets (74031300), all have similar unit prices around 24-26 USD per kilogram, suggesting a trade in fungible commodities likely tied to global indices. Copper alloys, such as brass (74032100) and other alloys (74032900), show higher unit prices of 570.58 USD per kilogram and 74.43 USD per kilogram respectively, indicating more differentiated, value-added products with potential for grade-based pricing.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For India Refined Copper HS Code 7403 Import in 2025 February, bulk importers face limited pricing power due to commodity nature, requiring focus on cost efficiency and supply chain optimization. Alloy importers may have slightly better pricing leverage through product differentiation. Import duties, including a 5% basic customs duty, 18% IGST, and 10% surcharge [Cybex], add to costs and should be factored into pricing strategies to maintain competitiveness.

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India Refined Copper (HS 7403) 2025 February Import: Market Concentration

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

In February 2025, Japan is the dominant supplier for India Refined Copper HS Code 7403 Import, accounting for 69.39% of the import value and 68.02% of the weight, indicating a high-grade commodity with consistent pricing around 25.74 USD per kilogram. The close alignment between value and weight ratios across top suppliers like Japan and Switzerland suggests stable, premium product flows, while Thailand's high quantity share but low value points to bulk, lower-cost options.

Partner Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The import partners form three clusters: Japan and Switzerland lead with high value and weight shares, likely due to their reputation for quality refined copper and reliable supply chains. Thailand stands out with a 37.90% quantity share but only 2.42% value, indicating bulk imports of lower-grade or cheaper copper. The remaining countries, such as Germany and the UAE, have minimal shares, reflecting niche or occasional sourcing due to competitive pricing or logistical factors.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For importers, prioritizing long-term contracts with dominant suppliers like Japan can ensure stable supply of high-grade copper, but must account for India's import duties, which include a 5% basic duty, 18% IGST, and 10% surcharge, totaling approximately 24.49% as per [Cybex] and other sources. Diversifying to bulk suppliers like Thailand could reduce costs but requires careful quality checks and compliance with India's import regulations under HS Code 7403.

Table: India Refined Copper (HS 7403) Top Partner Countries (Source: yTrade)

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India Refined Copper (HS 7403) 2025 February Import: Action Plan for Refined Copper Market Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

India Refined Copper Import 2025 February under HS Code 7403 is a commodity-driven market. Price is set by global indices and quality grade. Japan supplies most high-grade copper. A few large buyers dominate purchases. This creates supply chain risks. Over-reliance on one supplier and a few buyers increases vulnerability. Import duties near 24.5% add cost pressure. Bulk copper trades as a fungible product. Alloys offer slight differentiation but limited scale. Supply security and cost control are the main implications for India.

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Refined Copper Market Execution

• Use buyer frequency data to lock in long-term contracts with top volume importers. This ensures stable demand and reduces sales volatility from India's concentrated buyer base.
• Diversify sourcing beyond Japan by adding Thailand for bulk, lower-cost options. This mitigates supply disruption risks and capitalizes on cost savings for standard-grade copper under HS Code 7403.
• Analyze alloy import data to identify niche buyers for higher-margin products like brass. This unlocks premium pricing opportunities beyond the commodity segment of India Refined Copper Import 2025 February.
• Factor full import duty costs into pricing models using real-time trade data. This maintains competitiveness and avoids margin erosion from India's tax structure on HS Code 7403.
• Monitor global copper indices and supplier reliability metrics monthly. This enables proactive price negotiations and minimizes exposure to commodity market swings.

Take Action Now —— Explore India Refined Copper Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in India Refined Copper Import 2025 February?

India's refined copper imports surged to $94.59 million in February 2025, up sharply from $8.16 million the previous month, driven by seasonal demand rebound in construction and manufacturing sectors.

Q2. Who are the main partner countries in this India Refined Copper Import 2025 February?

Japan dominates with 69.39% of import value, followed by Switzerland and Thailand, which supplies bulk lower-grade copper at 37.90% quantity share but only 2.42% value share.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across India Refined Copper Import 2025 February partner countries?

Price differences stem from product type: bulk refined copper (e.g., cathodes under 74031100) trades at ~25 USD/kg, while alloys like brass (74032100) command higher prices (570.58 USD/kg).

Q4. What should importers in India focus on when buying Refined Copper?

Importers should prioritize contracts with dominant suppliers like Japan for stable high-grade supply while exploring cost-saving bulk options from Thailand, factoring in India’s 24.49% import duties.

Q5. What does this India Refined Copper import pattern mean for overseas suppliers?

Suppliers like Japan benefit from steady high-value demand, while bulk exporters (e.g., Thailand) must compete on price and compliance to tap India’s growing industrial needs.

Q6. How is Refined Copper typically used in this trade flow?

Imported refined copper, primarily cathodes and bulk unwrought forms, is likely used in large-scale industrial applications such as electrical wiring, construction, and manufacturing components.