Copper: Copper is a ductile, malleable base metal having excellent properties of heat and electricity conduction .

This is the most recycled base metal , makes it the most preferred material of choice. In terms of consumption it is at rank No 3 after, steel and aluminum. As this metal leads the base metal prices its also known as king of Base metals. It is commonly used to produce a wide variety of products, including electrical wire, cooking pots and pans, pipes and tubes, automobile radiators, and many others. Copper is also used as a pigment and preservative for paper, paint, textiles, and wood. It is combined with zinc to produce brass and with tin to produce bronze. Today, the United States and Chile are the world's top two copper producing countries, followed by Russia, Canada, and China. Following is a table of the worlds 10 biggest copper-producing countries ranked by 2011 output from mines, compiled by London-based metals-consulting company CRU. Figures are in thousands of metric tons. Country 1. Chile 2. China 3. Peru 4. U.S. 5. Australia 6. Indonesia 7. Zambia 8. Russia 9. Canada 10. Kazakhstan Production 5,427 1,247 1,246 1,136 873 872 808 622 478 434

Copper Trading in India The most important use of copper is in electrical wiring. This metal is very ductile, highly resistant to corrosion and one of the best conductors of electricity. It is also widely used in the production of construction material, telecommunications and alloys. About 48% of total copper

consumption is attributed to construction, 24% to engineering, 17% to electrical, and the remaining to transportation and other industries. Besides, it forms the backbone of several technological advances, the two biggest being telegraphic communications and electricity. Copper price depends upon various factors, including industrial growth, global economy, trade policies and geopolitical events. Besides, events like construction of new infrastructure, discontinuance of historical uses, supply disruption, etc. also affect copper prices. The metal is traded as a commodity mainly on London Metal Exchange (LME), Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) and Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX), LME is used as a benchmark across the globe. Copper is also one of the highest traded commodity on Indian commodity bourses.

Why is copper commodity a wise investment for an Indian trader? The diverse uses of copper make the metal significant for the progress of industry, information technology and electrification. Asia already consumes about 50% of the world's copper. With growing urbanization and industrialization in China and India, the demand is expected to rise even further. The developing countries are investing significant amounts in infrastructure sector boosting demand for copper. This is expected to make copper price in India upbeat in the short term and strong in the long run. MCX copper price can be used as reference for Indian traders. As the commodities market grows and per-capita income rises, demand for industrial metals will remain higher.