Loading...
SITCSection 2
U.S. imports of copper mattes & cement copper (precipitated copper) (SITC 28320) totaled $49K in April 2026, traded with 3 countries.
Copper Mattes & Cement Copper (Precipitated Copper) imports of $49K in April 2026 ran 145% above the year-to-date monthly average of $20K.
Last updated: April 2026 dataCopper matte is an intermediate smelter product — a molten mixture of copper and iron sulfides — produced by partial smelting of copper concentrates before the converting stage that yields blister copper. Cement copper, by contrast, is precipitated from leach solutions by cementation on iron scrap, a hydrometallurgical route common in heap-leach operations. These two distinct intermediate forms serve different points in the copper refining chain and are traded separately from both concentrates and refined metal, with their copper content and impurity profile determining their commercial value.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
Copper concentrate is a beneficiated ore product still containing sulfide minerals and gangue, while copper matte is a smelted intermediate with a significantly higher copper content — typically 50–75% — produced after the concentrate has been partially processed in a furnace. The two products enter different stages of the refining chain and are priced and classified accordingly.
Cement copper is produced by a hydrometallurgical process in which copper ions in acidic leach solutions are displaced onto iron scrap through a cementation reaction, yielding a spongy or powdery copper product. Its purity and physical form vary by operation, and buyers — typically secondary smelters or refineries — assess the copper content and impurity levels carefully before purchase, as these directly affect refining costs.
Monthly import values over time
Supplier Network
Get discovered by U.S. importers searching for HS 28320 — Copper Mattes & Cement Copper (Precipitated Copper). Be the first supplier listed.