Reuters reported that China's August copper imports fell 2.9% from the previous month reversing July's uptrend as the economic slowdown in the world's top consumer of the metal cut demand. The slight decline was in line with importers' expectations as most Chinese buyers did not place spot orders in August.

Arrivals of anode, refined metal, alloy and semi finished copper products totaled 355,856 tonnes in August the second lowest this year. In July, the amount was 366,548 tonnes.

Mr Zhang Ao analyst at Minmetals Futures said that "The data was a slight fall and reflected that demand in China did not change much in July and August. The small decline could be a result of shipment schedules."

Mr Zhang said that August's copper imports are 4.5% higher than a year earlier, largely because importers had signed contracts for more term shipments this year than last year. Demand however has not picked up so far as the economic slowdown and a weak property sector, reduced purchases for home appliances such as air conditioners that used copper tubes.

A purchaser for a large firm which uses refined copper said that we received about the same amount of copper in August as July even though demand for our product was not good the most popular type in the Chinese and international markets.

Traders had hoped demand for copper wires and cables would get a boost from the government by the end of August as it expands infrastructure spending but the amount of orders placed by the state has so far fallen below expectations.

In an indication of weaker demand in August, bonded refined copper stocks in Shanghai rose to about 650,000 tonnes in early September from about 620,000 tonnes a month earlier. The stocks traded at premiums of USD 30 to USD 80 over the cash London Metal Exchange prices last week down from USD 50 to USD 80 late in July.