EU–China › Copper
EU–China trade in copper
In May 2026, the EU exported €472M of copper to China and imported €233M — a €239M surplus in this category.
The EU's copper surplus with China has widened by about 146% over the past year, from €97M to €239M.
China supplied about 14% of the EU's extra-EU imports of copper in May 2026.
Updated monthly · latest data May 2026
— EU exports— EU imports137 months · latest 2026-05
EU exports
€472M
EU imports
€233M
Balance
€239M
Top sub-categories traded with China
EU exports →
- 7404Waste and scrap, of copper (excl. ingots or other similar unwrought shapes, of remelted copper waste and scrap, ashes and residues containing copper, and waste and scrap of primary cells, primary batteries and electric accumulators)€307M
- 7403Copper, refined, and copper alloys, unwrought (excl. copper alloys of heading 7405)€113M
- 7409Plates, sheets and strip, of copper, of a thickness of > 0,15 mm (excl. expanded sheet and strip copper and electrically insulated strip)€13M
- 7402Copper, unrefined; copper anodes for electrolytic refining€12M
- 7410Copper foil "whether or not printed or backed with paper, paperboard, plastics or similar backing materials", of a thickness "excl. any backing" of <= 0,15 mm (excl. stamping foils of heading 3212, metal yarns and metallised yarns and foil made up as christmas tree decorating material)€7.4M
← EU imports
- 7403Copper, refined, and copper alloys, unwrought (excl. copper alloys of heading 7405)€122M
- 7412Copper tube or pipe fittings "e.g., couplings, elbows, sleeves"€34M
- 7411Copper tubes and pipes€19M
- 7419Other articles of copper, n.e.s.€13M
- 7409Plates, sheets and strip, of copper, of a thickness of > 0,15 mm (excl. expanded sheet and strip copper and electrically insulated strip)€13M
Monthly figures
| Month | EU exports | EU imports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | €472M | €233M | €239M |
| April 2026 | €477M | €256M | €221M |
| March 2026 | €434M | €253M | €182M |
| February 2026 | €406M | €227M | €179M |
| January 2026 | €311M | €161M | €151M |
| December 2025 | €346M | €101M | €245M |
| November 2025 | €347M | €104M | €243M |
| October 2025 | €367M | €122M | €245M |
| September 2025 | €309M | €133M | €176M |
| August 2025 | €224M | €138M | €87M |
| July 2025 | €301M | €130M | €170M |
| June 2025 | €242M | €142M | €100M |
| May 2025 | €246M | €148M | €97M |
| April 2025 | €267M | €88M | €179M |
| March 2025 | €319M | €105M | €213M |
| February 2025 | €311M | €101M | €210M |
| January 2025 | €347M | €116M | €232M |
| December 2024 | €273M | €80M | €193M |
| November 2024 | €233M | €102M | €131M |
| October 2024 | €266M | €117M | €149M |
| September 2024 | €209M | €114M | €95M |
| August 2024 | €176M | €119M | €56M |
| July 2024 | €230M | €114M | €116M |
| June 2024 | €251M | €96M | €155M |
EU exports, imports and balance by month — extra-EU, EU27 reporter, latest 24 months.
Related trade lanes
Source: Eurostat — Comext DS-059341 · EU27 reporter · extra-EU trade · value in EUR. Figures are indicative and may be revised; verify against Eurostat before relying on them.