U.S. imports of Refined Copper Cathodes and Sections of Cathodes (HS 740311) totaled $2.8B in August 2026, imported from 25 countries.
Importers of Refined Copper Cathodes and Sections of Cathodes paid $3.4M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 0.12% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Refined Copper Cathodes and Sections of Cathodes imports of $2.8B in August 2026 ran 30% above the year-to-date monthly average of $2.1B.
Last updated: August 2026 dataRefined copper cathodes — the benchmark physical form for London Metal Exchange settlement and the primary feedstock for wire rod, tube, and sheet mills — are classified under a single US 10-digit line (7403110000), making purity grade and origin the key commercial variables rather than tariff-line distinctions. Chile is the dominant supplier, consistent with its position as the world's largest copper-mining nation, with Canada and the Democratic Republic of the Congo also significant sources. Copper cathodes have drawn attention in the context of potential Section 232 investigations into copper imports, and traders should monitor any developing trade-remedy actions that could affect landed cost.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
970 import shipments a month
Refined copper cathodes under heading 740311 must meet the definition of refined copper — typically 99.85% or higher copper content — and be in cathode or cathode-section form as produced by electrolytic refining. Blister copper, anode copper, and copper alloys are classified elsewhere in Chapter 74. Importers should confirm the assay certificate and production method documentation to support the refined cathode classification at entry.
Chile's outsized share of US refined copper cathode supply creates concentration risk tied to Chilean labor relations, water availability constraints in mining regions, and peso/dollar exchange dynamics. Buyers relying heavily on Chilean supply often use LME futures to hedge price exposure and maintain secondary supplier relationships with Canadian smelters or DRC-origin material to provide optionality during Chilean supply disruptions.
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Subheading 1 of 7 in heading 7403
Subheading 740311 · $2.8B of $2.8B
ImportsExports
Imports
$2.8BYoY · free account
Exports
$146.3MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $21.8B of Refined Copper Cathodes and Sections of Cathodes and exported $1.8B.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7403110000 | Refined Copper Cathodes and Sections of Cathodes | $2.8B | 0.12% | 11.28% | $3.4M |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 7403110000 | Refined Copper Cathodes and Sections of Cathodes | $146.3M |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Chile and Democratic Republic of the Congo together supply 62% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
88.5% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 0.12% of imports for consumption.