China's copper import dropped 24.4percent in June from the year-ago period, raising worries aboutweakening copper demand in the local market, according to NationalDevelopment and Reform Commission (NDRC).

    Analysts hold that the drastic slump in energy price helpsreducing costs of metal products, thus driving down the copper price.

    London Metal Exchange (LME) copper price has fallen about tenpercent since hitting a record high on July 2.