A comparison of copper use in China and India as a proxy for their economic development

The analysis examines the interconnection between copper flows into use (copper intensity of use) and the wider economic structures of China and India by presenting a copper flow model for years 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015 and conducting regression analysis for the period 1999 to 2015. The copper flow model illustrates China's shift in focus from copper mining to manufacturing. The model shows mining/milling is the stage with the lowest production in copper for both countries. From 2000 to 2015, copper ore processed in China increased by 188%, while domestic finished goods production and copper flows into use experienced a rapid growth of 390% and 331%, respectively. The ore processed in India decreased by 19% from 2000 to 2015. India's domestic finished goods production and copper flows into use grew by 178% and by 182%, respectively, during the same period. From 2000 to 2015, China's net imports of concentrates increased by 719%, while India's grew by 300%. In contrast, China is a net exporter of copper contained in finished goods, while India is a net importer of copper contained finished goods. China's net exports increased by 1182%, India's net imports by 344% over the same time period. Regression analysis indicates that both the degree of investment as a percentage of GDP and un-observed heterogeneity between China and India help to explain the difference in copper intensity of use be-tween China and India for the period from 1999 to 2015.