Interfax China reported that China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association official as saying that China will see 6% rises in demand for copper this year with total consumption expected to reach 7.3 million tonnes.

Mr Duan Shaofu director of the CNMIA's copper department said that planned upgrades to the power grid in rural areas, as well as the central government's drive to increase affordable housing will push up copper demand. The equipment manufacturing and high speed rail industries will also see an increase in copper consumption this year.

Mr Duan added that refined copper output will grow 42.86% YoY in 2011 to approximately 5 million tonnes. The price of copper meanwhile is expected to hit around USD 10,000 per tonne.

Mr Jia Yinsong an official with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said that the development of the high tech equipment manufacturing industry is a major focal point for China's 12th Five Year Plan (2011-2015).

Source: http://www.steelguru.com/metals_news/Chinese_copper_consumption_to_reach_7_million_tonnes_in_2011/201304.html