Copper slag is an important industrial byproduct, widely used in metal recycling and building materials. With the global emphasis on resource recycling and sustainable development, the production process and industry dynamics of copper slag are gradually becoming the focus of attention.

Copper slag production process
Copper slag mainly comes from waste generated during copper smelting. Its production process includes the following key steps:
Raw material preparation: copper-containing ore is smelted at high temperature to produce copper metal and copper slag. Copper slag usually contains 10% to 40% copper and other valuable metals such as lead and zinc.
Crushing and grinding: The cooled copper slag is crushed and ground to improve the efficiency of subsequent treatment. This step is the basis for ensuring the effective recovery of valuable metals.
Leaching treatment: Through the leaching process, the copper slag is mixed with a dilute sulfuric acid solution and oxygen or oxygen-enriched air is introduced. Under controlled temperature and pressure conditions, a chemical reaction is carried out to extract the metal ions dissolved in the liquid.
Impurity removal and crystallization: After obtaining the leaching solution, chemical reagents such as hydrogen peroxide are added to remove impurities (such as iron, calcium, magnesium, etc.), and then concentrated and crystallized to finally obtain high-purity copper sulfate and other products.
Drying and packaging: After the crystallized product is dried, it is packaged for market use.
This process not only improves the recovery rate of metals, but also reduces environmental pollution and realizes the effective utilization of resources.
Industry dynamics
In recent years, with the global emphasis on environmental protection and resource recycling, the copper slag industry has also undergone a series of changes:
Technological progress: The research and development of new technologies has made copper slag processing more efficient. For example, China Copper Corporation has improved the recovery rate of minor metals (such as germanium, selenium, etc.) through technological improvements, which has promoted the transformation of the entire industry to higher value-added products36.
Market demand growth: With the increasing demand for high-performance materials in industries such as construction, automobiles, and electronics, the market demand for copper slag as a high-quality abrasive and building material continues to grow. In particular, in the field of sandblasting and surface treatment, copper slag is highly favored due to its excellent physical properties2.
Policy support: Governments around the world are paying more and more attention to the development of the circular economy and have introduced a series of policies to promote resource recycling. In its 14th Five-Year Plan, the Chinese government has clearly proposed to strengthen the development of the renewable resources industry to achieve green and low-carbon goals6.
International cooperation: With the acceleration of globalization, countries are increasingly cooperating in the field of resource recycling. Through technical exchanges and experience sharing, the development of copper slag treatment technology has been promoted and the global resource utilization efficiency has been improved.
Currently, the main trading countries of copper slag include several countries that have an important position in the fields of copper smelting and metal recycling. The following are some of the main copper slag trading countries and their dynamics:
Indonesia
Indonesia is one of the world’s major copper slag exporters, with an annual copper slag export volume of between 5 million and 6 million tons. This gives Indonesia a considerable share of the global copper slag market4.
South Africa
South Africa’s copper slag exports usually exceed 1 million tons, mainly exported to Asia, Europe and the Americas. China, Japan, South Korea and Germany are the main importers of copper slag from South Africa5.
Brazil
Brazil’s tin-copper slag is mainly exported to Asia, especially China, Japan and South Korea, which have a large demand for tin-copper slag. In addition, Brazil’s tin-copper slag is also exported to Europe and North America7.
United States
The United States is an important exporter of scrap copper and copper slag in the world. Although its exports to China have declined in recent years due to policy changes, it is still one of the main sources of supply. The United States exports copper slag and scrap copper products to many countries, especially those with metal recycling capabilities62.
China
Although China is a major importer, the quality requirements for imported copper slag are also constantly improving as domestic environmental protection standards are improved. China’s demand for high-grade copper slag continues to grow, especially in the fields of construction materials and metal recycling12.
Industry dynamics
Influence of environmental protection policies: The strengthening of environmental protection policies in various countries has restricted the import of low-grade copper slag, prompting intensified competition among trading countries for high-grade copper slag.
Market demand growth: With the development of the construction industry and metal recycling industry, the demand for copper slag continues to increase, which has promoted the development of international trade.
Technological progress: The development of new technologies has improved the efficiency of copper slag processing, which helps to increase its market value and attract more countries to participate in the trade.
In short, countries such as Indonesia, South Africa, Brazil and the United States occupy an important position in the global copper slag trade, and China, as a major importer, has also been increasing its demand for high-quality copper slag. These dynamics reflect the trend of global resource recycling and sustainable development.
In short, as an important industrial by-product, the production process of copper slag is constantly optimized, and the industry dynamics are also changing positively. In the future, with the advancement of technology and the increase in market demand, the application prospects of copper slag will be broader, making greater contributions to the realization of sustainable development goals.