India's copper imports, 2015 and 2025
India's copper import bill has increased 260% in just 10 years, indicating high demand
India spent $11.8bn importing copper in 2025, up from $3.3bn in 2015, says NITI Aayog's latest Trade Watch report. Copper is now 23.1% of all the metal India imports, up from 12.4%.
Demand is one reason. Copper goes into power lines, electric vehicles, electronics and buildings, all of which are growing fast.
Supply is the other. India makes only about 35% of the refined copper it uses, and imports 96% of its copper ore. Since Sterlite's Tuticorin plant shut, Hindustan Copper is the only copper miner left.
Exports do not help much. India sold just $2.9bn of copper abroad in 2025, about a quarter of what it bought.
And imports are still rising, up 18.8% in April to June 2026 from a year earlier. In short, India needs more copper every year but cannot produce enough at home.
Copper grew fastest among India's top metal imports
India's imports of 4 metals in 2015 and 2025, in $bn. Copper imports grew 3.6 times, to $11.8bn.
$ BILLION
Iron and steelCopperAluminiumSteel goods
Steel goods are articles of iron or steel. Copper imports were $3,288.2 million in 2015 and $11,846.6 million in 2025.
NITI Aayog, Trade Watch Quarterly, April-June (Q1) FY27 (September 2026) · 2015 and 2025
India makes 35% of the refined copper it uses
How much of what India uses it produces itself, 2019-23. India covers all its iron ore but only about a third of its refined copper.
SELF-SUFFICIENCY, %
Aluminium is primary aluminium, copper refined copper, lead refined lead and zinc slab. Ministry of Mines data, as given in the report.
NITI Aayog, Trade Watch Quarterly, April-June (Q1) FY27 (September 2026) · 2019-23