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"The Copper-Free Brake Initiative calls for cutting copper in brake pads to less than 5 percent by 2021 and 0.5 percent by 2025. This voluntary initiative also calls for cutting the amount of mercury, lead, cadmium, asbestiform fibers and chromium-6 salts in motor vehicle brake pads."

According to data from China Customs, Chinese imports of semi-finished copper products amounted to 51,900t in November, a slight increase from October's 51,000t but down 17.6% y-o-y. Compared to 2011, Chinese January-November semis imports were down 14.7% at 613,400t as the ramp-up in domestic semis production in China reduced the demand for foreign produced semis. China customs also reported that cathode imports rebounded in November to 250,666t, up 8.7% from October.

Brazilian refined copper wire exports fell sharply year-on-year in March as Argentina and Costa Rica continued to reduce shipments. Exports for the month totalled 1,848 tonnes, down 41.6% from the same period last year, according to figures from the country's trade ministry. The figure was up from the 1,446 tonnes exported in February. However, combined exports for the first quarter of 2013 stood at 6,220 tonnes, down 47.1% year-on-year. Export revenues stood at $15.09 million, compared with $27.62 million in March 2012. Wire thinner than 6mm accounted for 1,135 tonnes of the exports, whereas other kinds of refined copper wire accounted for 712 tonnes. As in the previous month, Argentina was the main Brazilian copper wire buyer with 1,311 tonnes, although this total was less than the 1,835 tonnes it imported in March 2012. Costa Rica, the second main buyer, registered 203 tonnes, compared with 402 tonnes in the same month last year.

Texas-based wire manufacturer Encore Wire saw its net income fall by 65% in 2012 to US$19.8M, as reduced prices for building wire pressured margins. The spread the company earns between the sale price of wire and the cost of purchasing raw material, mostly copper, fell by 9.4% in 2012. The company's CEO said that the fourth quarter of 2012 "was another fairly steady volume quarter, considering the time of the year and the current economic and construction industry environment." Encore is more optimistic about the operating environment in 2013 and CEO Daniel Jones said most of Encore's electrical distributor customers have lean inventories so demand should be stronger.

Copper Wristfy bracelet warms skin directly, reducing the need to heat buildings

Wieland-Werke AG, the German fabricator of brass mill products, reported sales of 475,000t, down by 0.4% y-o-y in financial year 2010/2011. Turnover increased by 24% y-o-y to reach €3,287M and profits also rose to €45M in 2010/2011 after a loss of €6M in the previous year. The rise in turnover was mainly attributed to rising metals prices, while the company said that the increase in profits was caused by a product mix composed of a larger amount of value-added products. Wieland noted strong demand in the first six months of the period, which was offset by the Euro debt-crisis as a driver of significantly weaker demand in Europe during the latter half of the fiscal year. In addition, the company saw a fall in demand in Asia from Spring 2011 and continued very low demand in North America. End-use consumer demand was weak and impacted the electronics and electrical engineering sectors as well as vehicle production. Mechanical engineering was considered to be a bright spot in fiscal year 2010/2011.

Wieland-Werke AG, the German fabricator of brass mill products, stated that demand in 2012 began weakly. After January, orders rose only slightly, but demand from important markets in Asia and Europe declined, principally attributed to cautious buying as fears remained over the impact of the course of the euro debt crisis in 2012. In addition, the company is experiencing reduced demand from the electronics industry in Asia following the closure of several plants affected by the tsunami in Japan and flooding in Thailand. Wieland has also not seen any growth support from North America and is uncertain about the global outlook for demand in 2012 due to the unpredictability of the euro debt crisis.

Copper represents less than 1% of the cost of a PV system installed. Is it really a cost-saving target?