Pakistan’s copper exports to China crossed $1 billion during the first eight months of FY2025-26, emerging as one of the fastest-growing segments in the country’s industrial export sector, according to customs export data.
Pakistan exported copper products worth more than $1.30 billion between July and February of the current fiscal year. Of the total exports, copper ingots shipped to China accounted for $1.02 billion, while another $280 million came from exports of other copper-related products.
Data showed copper ingot exports increased from $52.894 million in July 2025 to $393.126 million in March, reflecting a nearly six-fold increase over the period.
Industry sources said Pakistani copper exports were also reaching markets such as the United States and Canada, indicating broader international demand for the country’s processed and recycled metal products.
They attributed much of the sector’s growth to the Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS), which has become a key framework for the recycled metals trade.
Under S.R.O. 1435(I)/2025 issued by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), duties and taxes on imported iron and steel content are collected at the import stage, while copper recovered through domestic processing is exported as a value-added product under a documented regulatory system.
Industry participants said the arrangement had helped support exports while discouraging undocumented trade and encouraging value addition within Pakistan instead of exporting raw material.
The expansion in copper exports has also supported related sectors including processors, refiners, logistics companies, warehouse operators, labour contractors and small and medium enterprises linked to the supply chain.
Industry estimates suggest Pakistan’s copper export potential could rise to between $2 billion and $3 billion in the coming years if the existing policy framework remains in place.
