Copper Import Quality Curbs

27 Jun 2025 GS 3 Economy

India Defends Copper Import Quality Curbs Amid Legal Challenge

  • Background:
    The Indian government is defending its Quality Control Order (QCO) on copper cathode imports in the Delhi High Court, following a legal challenge by the Bombay Metal Exchange (BME) and the Bombay Non-Ferrous Metals Association.

  • Petitioners' Argument:
    Trade bodies argue that the QCO would:

    • Cause supply shortages

    • Create a domestic monopoly controlled by companies like Hindalco, Vedanta, Adani, and Hindustan Copper.

  • Context:

    • India is the world’s second-largest importer of refined copper

    • Copper is one of 30 critical minerals identified by India (2023)

    • Demand is projected to double by 2030

    • Imports rose after the 2018 closure of Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper smelter

    • Japan accounts for two-thirds of India’s copper imports.




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