CAS 7440-50-8 · IECSC · People's Republic of China

Copper metal (Cu) under IECSC

Cu · 铜

Status: Listed. Copper metal is on IECSC as an existing chemical. **China is the world's largest refiner of copper (~45% global share) but a structural net-importer of cathode copper** given limited domestic mine output relative to refining + downstream-fabrication capacity. Primary inbound sources: Chile (Codelco + BHP Escondida + Antofagasta + Anglo American), Peru (Freeport-McMoRan Cerro Verde + Southern Copper + Antamina), DRC (Glencore Katanga + KCC + CMOC Tenke Fungurume), Australia (BHP Olympic Dam SA + Glencore Mount Isa QLD), Mongolia (Rio Tinto Oyu Tolgoi). Major Chinese refiners: Jiangxi Copper Corporation (Guixi Jiangxi), Tongling Nonferrous Metals (Anhui Tongling), Yunnan Copper (Kunming Yunnan), Daye Nonferrous (Hubei Huangshi), Zijin Mining (Fujian Zijin), China Copper; verify each producer-site pair against the producer's public website before relying. NOT on China Hazardous Chemicals Catalogue (2015 edition) at refined Cu level (verify against https://www.mem.gov.cn/ before relying). **China VAT export rebate on copper products has historically varied by tariff line + period; verify current VAT rebate rate per HS line against current SAT / MOFCOM circulars before invoicing**.

IECSC treats copper metal as a routine listed existing chemical. **China is the world's largest copper refiner (~45% global share) but a structural net-importer of cathode copper** given limited domestic mine output. Major Chinese refiners: Jiangxi Copper + Tongling + Yunnan Copper + Daye + Zijin + China Copper. **Subject to multiple US + EU AD/CVD measures on Chinese-origin downstream copper PRODUCTS (foil + sheet / strip + tube + alloy + wire / cable); verify per case + per producer at access.trade.gov + EUR-Lex before invoicing.** **Section 232 US national security investigation on copper imports announced 25 February 2025.** **AD/CVD on downstream products is the practical Chinese-origin export compliance pivot.**

Listing and threshold

Substance Copper metal (Cu) (CAS 7440-50-8), Cu
Regime China Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances (IECSC), administered by Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE)
Jurisdiction People's Republic of China
Status Listed
Tonnage threshold New Chemical Substance Notification (NCSN) under MEE Decree 12 not required (existing chemical)

Classifications under this regime

  • IECSC Listed Existing Chemical
  • GB 30000 GHS classification: Aquatic Acute 1 + Aquatic Chronic 1 in particulate / powder form (verify against current GB 30000-series at http://www.csres.com/ + http://www.std.samr.gov.cn/ before relying)
  • NOT on China Hazardous Chemicals Catalogue (2015 edition) at refined Cu level (verify against https://www.mem.gov.cn/ before relying)
  • JT/T 617 / GB 12268 hazardous-goods transport: NOT regulated as dangerous goods in massive metal form
  • **SHFE Shanghai Futures Exchange Cathode Copper contract** (Chinese benchmark alongside LME Copper Grade A; verify against https://www.shfe.com.cn/ for current contract specification)
  • **China VAT export rebate on copper products has historically varied (verify per HS line + current SAT / MOFCOM circulars before invoicing)**
  • IARC: Not classified (verify against https://monographs.iarc.who.int/ before relying)

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • GB 30000 GHS labelling required
  • Customs HS 7403 (refined cathode) / 7404 (waste + scrap) / 7407-7411 (downstream products)
  • No CBAM equivalent in Chinese domestic regulation
  • **Subject to multiple US + EU AD/CVD measures on Chinese-origin downstream copper PRODUCTS; verify per case + per producer + per HS line at https://access.trade.gov/ + EUR-Lex before invoicing**
  • Chinese copper-scrap import restrictions tightened post-2017 (Operation National Sword + 2018 Solid Waste Management Action Plan); verify current import-license + quality-grade requirements against https://www.mee.gov.cn/ before relying

Importer obligations

Chinese importer of record must hold IECSC listing reliance. **China is the world's largest copper refiner + downstream fabricator; export consignment of downstream products triggers AD/CVD scope determination per case + per producer at destination.** Cathode inbound: major sources Chile + Peru + DRC + Australia + Mongolia; copper-scrap inbound subject to post-2017 import-license + quality-grade restrictions per MEE Solid Waste Management Action Plan.

Required documents

  • GB-compliant SDS in Chinese (Aquatic Acute 1 + Aquatic Chronic 1 in particulate / powder form)
  • China Customs (CCS) declaration HS 7403 / 7404 / 7407-7411
  • Cathode inbound: applicable inbound documentation per Chinese inspection regime (CIQ)
  • Copper-scrap inbound: import-license + quality-grade documentation per MEE Solid Waste Management Action Plan
  • **Downstream-product outbound: AD/CVD documentation per destination case + per producer (verify against https://access.trade.gov/ + EUR-Lex per case)**
  • SHFE warehouse warrant where contract delivery

Common compliance traps

The pitfalls that have bitten importers on this lane in the past. None of these is theoretical.

  • **China is the world's largest copper refiner (~45% global share) but a structural net-importer of cathode** given limited domestic mine output
  • **Subject to multiple US + EU AD/CVD measures on Chinese-origin downstream copper PRODUCTS (foil + sheet / strip + tube + alloy + wire / cable); verify per case + per producer at access.trade.gov + EUR-Lex**
  • **Section 232 US national security investigation on copper imports announced 25 February 2025**
  • GB 30000 GHS classification (Aquatic Acute 1 + Chronic 1 in particulate / powder form)
  • NOT regulated as dangerous goods in massive metal form
  • Major Chinese refiners: Jiangxi Copper Corporation Guixi + Tongling Anhui + Yunnan Copper Kunming + Daye Hubei Huangshi + Zijin Mining Fujian + China Copper
  • Chinese copper-scrap import restrictions tightened post-2017 (Operation National Sword)

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for copper metal (cu), see the CAS 7440-50-8 sourcing reference.

For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the copper metal (cu) cornerstone hub covers the full sourcing chain.

For the structure and history of IECSC, see the IECSC glossary entry.

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Cross-jurisdiction profile and sourcing references

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