China imported 420,000 tons of copper ore valued at 850.527 million US dollars in March 2008.  The import in January-March reached 1,370,000 tons valued at 2,774.885 million US dollars, up 32.4 percent and 48.3 percent respectively year on year.

   Following is a table showing the import from 2004 to March 2008, released by the General Administration of Customs:

             Cumulative   Change y-o-  Cumulative   Change y-o- 
             Quantity   ( y (%)        Value (      y (%)       
             1,000 tons)               million US               
                                       dollars)                 
                                                                
2004         2,880        8.0          2,238.422    73.3        
                                                                
                                                                
2005         4,060        41.4         3,706.722    66.4        
                                                                
                                                                
December     3,610        -11.0        6,117.248    64.4        
                                                                
                                                                
2007                                                            
                                                                
January      330          11.4         601.847      69.1        
                                                                
February     720          23.1         1,308.980    81.2        
                                                                
March        1,040        16.0         1,837.799    64.2        
                                                                
April        1,520        24.6         2,596.172    63.8        
                                                                
May          1,890        26.8         3,231.810    60.4        
                                                                
June         2,270        26.6         4,028.319    56.3        
                                                                
July         2,640        27.4         4,813.918    53.5        
                                                                
August       3,190        35.9         6,008.556    63.2        
                                                                
September    3,460        26.8         6,568.052    48.7        
                                                                
October      3,750        29.0         7,142.542    50.6        
                                                                
November     4,130        27.4         7,993.528    47.7        
                                                                
December     4,520        25.0         8,816.441    44.2        
                                                                
                                                                
2008                                                            
                                                                
January      510          54.3         1,048.716    77.8        
                                                                
February     950          32.0         1,924.490    46.9        
                                                                
March        1,370        32.4         2,774.885    48.3