Copper Crisis Looms as China Dominates Market, Warns German Minister

Berlin - Concerns are growing over a potential copper crisis in Germany, as Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche has announced alarming developments regarding copper supplies. Speaking at a Siemens Energy AG event, Reiche highlighted the urgent need for Europe to support its domestic copper smelting industry amidst rising competition from Chinese traders.

According to Reiche, there has been a significant increase in the purchase of copper scrap by Chinese merchants, which is severely impacting the availability of raw materials for German copper producers. This situation has resulted in considerable shortages for local smelters, raising alarms about the future of the industry.

The issue was initially reported by Bloomberg, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. Reiche stated that German copper producers are struggling to secure necessary raw materials due to the intense competition from Chinese buyers, who are acquiring large quantities of copper waste from the market. The Federal Minister also noted that if the European Union attempts to impose export regulations to mitigate this issue, it could lead to further trade disputes with China, similar to existing tensions surrounding Chinese electric vehicle exports.

Reiche is advocating for the establishment of EU guidelines to prevent Chinese companies from outbidding German and European smelters. Although she did not specify what these new regulations should entail, she emphasized that this topic should be integrated into a broader strategy aimed at enhancing the resilience of European economies.

In response to the unfolding situation, Svenja Hahn, a member of the FDP and an EU trade expert, echoed Reiche's concerns. Hahn pointed out that the metal market is being significantly distorted by the actions of the United States and China, calling for the EU to consider whether it should implement export restrictions on copper, steel, and aluminum scrap. She noted that selling metal scrap to the U.S. and China is geopolitically unwise, particularly as U.S. tariffs artificially inflate the cost of European metal products.

Hahn further explained that the U.S. is utilizing this metal scrap to manufacture goods while China floods the EU market with heavily subsidized products. The increasing demand for copper is underscored by its vital role in modern technology, including the production of wires, cables, and semiconductors. In electric vehicles, the copper usage is notably four times greater than in traditional combustion engine vehicles.

Over the last five years, China's economy has dramatically increased its acquisition of copper scrap. In 2025, Reiche predicts that China will seek to source copper from a wider array of countries following a decline in direct shipments from the U.S., traditionally the largest supplier. In the first seven months of this year alone, China reportedly imported approximately 204,000 tons of copper scrap from EU member states, representing a 3.5% increase compared to the previous year.