In June 2026, China's total sulphur imports amounted to approximately 195,000 metric tons (mt), down 27.3% month-on-month and down 81.1% year-on-year, originated primarily from Canada, South Korea, Japan, the UAE, Brunei, Singapore, and Kazakhstan. China's total sulphur exports amounted to approximately 238 mt, down 56.5% month-on-month, with major destinations including Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam, and North Korea. China's total sulphuric acid imports amounted to approximately 3,000 mt (reference value, subject to final customs data), sourced primarily from Taiwan, China, South Korea, Japan, Germany, and the United States. China's total sulphuric acid exports amounted to approximately 16,000 mt, down 84.5% month-on-month and down 96.0% year-on-year, with major destinations including Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Tanzania, and Togo.

According to data released by the China Customs online query platform, China's June 2026 exports of refined tin were 1,589.46 mt, down 27.86% MoM and down 19.45% YoY. In June, China exported 295.36 mt of refined tin to Japan, up 1.93% MoM and up 79.41% YoY. On the import side, China's June 2026 imports of refined tin were 1,228.38 mt, down 33.18% MoM and down 31.21% YoY. In June, China imported 745.99 mt of refined tin from Indonesia, up 25.56% MoM and down 45.50% YoY. China imported 301.11 mt of refined tin from Bolivia in June, down 14.25% MoM and up 51.41% YoY. Below is a summary of import breakdown data compiled from the website of the General Administration of Customs of China: Origin June 2026 (mt) MoM YoY Indonesia 745.99 25.56% -45.50% Bolivia 301.11 -14.25% 51.41% Malaysia 120.20 -39.90% -19.97% Thailand 20.08 -95.47% 187.23% Russia 19.98 -75.00% - China 18.03 -70.40% - Taiwan, China 1.24 -73.47% 51.22% US 1.21 465.73% 484.95% South Korea 0.40 233.33% 60.00% Japan 0.15 -85.85% -93.12% Total 1228.38 -33.18% -31.21% Source: General Administration of Customs Note: The total import/export volumes include data from certain origins not listed in the above table. (Vinvin Synthesis)

Focused on H1-2026 customs data — a cliff in sulfur imports with a reshuffled source mix; acid exports collapsing under the export ban. Three charts decode the shifts in volume, source and momentum.

[Copper Foil Customs Data] According to data from the General Administration of Customs, in June 2026, the main importing countries and regions for China's copper foil were Taiwan, China (4,519.08 mt), Indonesia (1,403.64 mt), and Malaysia (761.26 mt). In June 2026, the main export destinations for China's copper foil were Thailand (1,607.36 mt), Malaysia (987.78 mt), and South Korea (868.71 mt).

[SMM Brass Billet Flash] By source of imports, South Korea remained China's largest import source of brass billet. In June, imports of brass billet from South Korea were 1,249.49 mt, up 11.77% MoM and up 69.46% YoY, accounting for 39.58% of total imports in the month. Japan ranked second, with June imports of 509.22 mt, up 15.76% MoM and up 12.05% YoY, accounting for 16.13%. Imports from the two traditional core suppliers, Japan and South Korea, both maintained a MoM rise, together accounting for over 50% of supplies, indicating a stable traditional supply landscape in East Asia.

According to the latest data from the General Administration of Customs, in June 2026, China imported 210,900 mt in physical content of copper scrap and shredded copper scrap, up 10.43% MoM and up 15.11% YoY. In January-June 2026, cumulative imports reached 1.2415 million mt in physical content, up 8.39% YoY.

According to the latest data from China Customs, total imports of nickel sulphate in June 2026 stood at 6,560 mt in metal content, up 57% MoM and 125% YoY. Exports of nickel sulphate were 154 mt in metal content, up 203% MoM but down 11% YoY. Net imports of nickel sulphate in June 2026 were 6,406 mt in metal content, up 55% MoM and 133% YoY. By country, exports to Japan and South Korea rebounded markedly this month, pushing up total exports. On the import side, arrivals from Indonesia, South Korea, Finland and other countries rose sharply, leading to a notable increase in total imports. The rise in net imports of nickel sulphate this month was broadly in line with the previous month's expectations.

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China's imports of copper-zinc alloy (brass) bars and rods amounted to 3,156.8 mt in physical content in June 2026, up 48.99% YoY and up 14.11% MoM

The latest customs data show that in June 2026, China's imports of copper-zinc alloy (brass) bars and rods stood at 3,156.8 mt in physical content, up 48.99% YoY and up 14.11% MoM. Cumulative imports for January-June 2026 reached 14,600 mt in physical content, with the cumulative YoY growth rate turning from negative in the first five months to positive at 6.56%. (HS codes 74072111, 74072119, 74072190). From April to June, the downstream sector in China maintained a regular restocking pace, overseas producer deliveries were stable, and the concentrated arrival of some orders in June drove a second consecutive month of MoM recovery in monthly imports, with the YoY growth rate for the month significantly strengthening, shifting H1 total imports from weak to strong. However, overall consumption from end-users in real estate, home appliances, and hardware did not see concentrated releases, with the market only experiencing periodic replenishment, and sustained large-scale procurement has yet to emerge. In terms of import source structure, South Korea remained China's largest source of brass billet imports. In June, brass billet imports from South Korea were 1,249.49 mt, up 11.77% MoM and surging 69.46% YoY, accounting for 39.58% of total monthly imports. Japan ranked second, with June imports of 509.22 mt, up 15.76% MoM and up 12.05% YoY, accounting for 16.13%. Imports from the two major traditional core suppliers, Japan and South Korea, both rose MoM, with their combined supply share exceeding 50%, solidifying the traditional East Asian supply landscape. Of particular note, supply growth from Thailand surged, making it the third-largest import source. In June, brass billet imports from Thailand totaled 444.6 mt, up 126.46% MoM and skyrocketing 2,119.78% YoY, accounting for 14.08% for the month. Continuous capacity release in Southeast Asia, improved cross-border logistics channels, and some enterprises diversifying procurement and broadening supply channels drove a leapfrog increase in Thailand's brass billet imports to China, further highlighting the diversification of import sources . Import value growth also accelerated, further widening the volume-value divergence pattern and continuously highlighting upstream cost pressures . In June, the import value of brass billet was $30.0249 million, up 12.23% MoM and up 85.95% YoY. Cumulative import value for January-June 2026 reached $135.7328 million, up 33.34% YoY. A data comparison clearly shows that while H1 imports rose only 6.56% YoY, the cumulative import value surged by 33.34%, with the growth gap between volume and value continuing to widen. The core driving logic remains the consolidation of international copper raw material prices at highs, with overseas brass billet production and processing costs continuously rising. This cost pressure is transmitted downstream to the import trade side, directly pushing up import transaction unit prices. Even as import physical volumes recover steadily, high-priced raw materials still drive up overall import values. The core contradiction of the current brass billet market—“high costs, weak demand, and pessimistic expectations”—has not undergone a substantial reversal. On one hand, international copper prices continue to fluctuate at high levels, constantly elevating overseas production costs for brass billet and domestic import procurement costs, thereby continuously squeezing profit margins of domestic copper processing enterprises. Enterprises’ willingness to make large-scale import purchases remains overall cautious. On the other hand, traditional downstream terminals such as real estate, home appliances, and hardware and plumbing are recovering at a slow pace. Downstream finished product orders are generally mediocre, spot market trading sentiment is sluggish, and enterprises primarily restock in small quantities on demand, lacking momentum for proactive substantial restocking. Combining June import performance with downstream terminal fundamentals, SMM expects the brass billet import market in Q3 to remain under pressure.