Copper use in China and India as a Proxy for Economic Development

Abstract

The study uses a copper flow model for the years 2010, 2012, 2010, and 2017 using regression analysis to look at the relationship between copper flows into usage (copper intensity of use) and the larger economic structures of China and India. China's transition away from copper mining and towards manufacturing is portrayed by the copper flow model. The model indicates that copper production in both countries is lowest during the mining and milling stages. Between 2010 and 2018, China's processing of copper ore increased by 138%, while domestic output of completed goods and copper flows into consumption increased by 320% and 131%, respectively. The volume of ore processed in India decreased by 14% between 2010 and 2018. Domestic finished product production in India expanded by 118% while copper flows into usage climbed by 152% during the same time period. Between 2010 and 2018, China's net imports of concentrates increased by 221%, while India's increased by 300%. China, on the other hand, exports completed commodities containing copper, whereas India imports finished goods containing copper. China's net exports soared by 1182% during the same period, while India's net imports increased by 210%.