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According to Sims Metal Management Asia, China is anticipated to remain a leading consumer of copper scrap as it continues to produce less recycled copper than required. The company also said that Chinese imports of copper scrap have been steadily increasing. The copper scrap industry has registered a steady recovery, supported by high cathode prices. However, volumes are still below 2008 levels. Generation of copper scrap has been slow, due to the sluggish recovery in the US construction sector.

"China has become the world's largest producer and consumer of plastic pipes. In 2013, China's plastic pipe output and demand reached 12.1 million tons and 11.117 million tons respectively, representing the respective year-on-year increase of 10.0% and 7.1%. The output of PVC pipes is higher than that of other plastic pipe varieties in China, followed by the output of PE pipes and PP pipes. In 2013, China's PVC pipe output hit 6.59 million tons, accounting for 54.5% of China's total plastic pipe output, while the output of PE pipes and PP pipes shared 40.5% together. "

In fact, many researchers believe energy storage will have to take an entirely new chemistry and new physical form, beyond the lithium-ion batteries that over the last decade have shoved aside competing technologies in consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and grid-scale storage systems.

According to the CEO of Codelco, the world's largest copper producer based in Chile, demand for copper will continue to be driven by China through 2017. Consumption from the nation is expected to account for around three quarters of the 4.8Mt of new copper production expected to come on stream over the next six years. Codelco pointed to continuing urbanisation and infrastructure developments as the key drivers of demand in the region. China currently consumes around 38% of the world's copper. Global consumption is expected to hit 22Mt by 2017.

"Wireless charging manufacturers are expected to reach economies of scale to offer the technology at a competitive price by 2016 or 2017. The perceived value also may improve with time. The smartphone market is the earliest adopter of wireless power charging technology, and is the largest revenue contributor to the global market. Other potential applications include consumer electronics (e.g., tools, lights, phones, headsets, and laptops), electric vehicles, and industrial uses. Wireless charging technology is expected to expand into these markets during the forecast period."

"For remote charging to take off metaphorically as well as literally, though, devices employing it need to be interoperable. That means establishing industry standards. Unfortunately, in a competition reminiscent of that in the 1890s between alternating current (Tesla's preference) and direct current (promoted by Thomas Edison), three main consumer standards have emerged."

8Mb rADSL is a far off pipe-dream - only speed advantage over a modem is the connect time. But it's what I'm charged for.

Another factor in the local network copper/aluminium/fibre mix. Consumers are paying for high speed and getting something in between. This isn't underpinning demand its causing consumers frustration.

The electric membership corporations (EMCs) in Georgia observed the first anniversary of legislation to bring harsher penalties to those charged with metals theft. "Metals theft is not a victimless crime," says Bill Verner, vice president, government relations, communications and member services with Georgia EMC. "Consumers foot the bill for replacing and repairing the damage left by a wire thief." In 2007, the EMCs and Georgia EMC led an industry effort to craft legislation aimed at toughening the existing law. The new law, which took effect July 1, 2007, forces the defendant to make full restitution to the lawful owner of the stolen metal and allows the prosecutor to prosecute based on how much it will cost to return the affected property to its original condition and not just the salvage value of the stolen metal. According to Verner

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and A123Systems have teamed up to support the battery-maker's effort to develop safe, less expensive, more powerful, and longer lasting batteries for hybrid-electric vehicles. The Laboratory and the battery-maker have signed a three-year, Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to examine and develop new techniques to improve thermal management in advanced transportation batteries. "We're pleased to be working with A123Systems on thermal management of their advanced nanophosphate-based lithium ion batteries," NREL Principal Engineer Ahmad Pesaran said. "Batteries with improved thermal behavior are critical for widespread acceptance of affordable hybrid-electric vehicles that consume less fuel and reduced harmful emissions." Hybrid electric vehicles get as much as double the fuel economy of comparable cars. Plug-in hybrids will be even more gasoline-stingy with potential of displacing significant amount of gasoline with electricity for road transportation. To achieve these goals, affordable, high-performance, safe, and long-lasting batteries need to be produced in large quantities. Propulsion batteries - batteries that power an electric motor to assist moving a car - are key components of hybrid-electric vehicles, and will be more important in the plug-in hybrid and extended range electric cars of the future. By better understanding the thermal behavior of advanced batteries, NREL researchers will help A123Systems engineers design improved thermal management systems and to optimize the design of the battery cell and develop a battery pack that's lighter, cheaper and more durable.

This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Copper in Thousands of Metric Tons. The specific end-use segments discussed are Building and Construction, Electrical and Electronic, Industrial Machinery and Equipment, Transportation, and Consumer and General Products. The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America. and Rest of World.