Tamim International Limited supplies copper, base metals and minerals from Tanzania to smelters, refiners, recyclers and traders in China, India, Vietnam and the rest of Asia. We quote CIF to your Asian port or DDP, and you pay by T/T only after you or your inspector have seen the cargo, are satisfied and have signed the contract. We do not ask for deposits or upfront fees, and we do not work on letter-of-credit terms.
This page explains what we ship to Asia, the import standards each product has to meet in the main markets, and how a shipment works from inspection in Tanzania to discharge at your port.
What we ship to Asian buyers
| Product | What buyers usually specify | Rule to check on import |
|---|---|---|
| Millberry copper wire scrap (bare bright) | ReMA grade (Barley/Berry), copper content, coating and contamination, 20 ft containers | China: GB/T 38471-2019 recycled copper raw material. India: PSIC |
| Copper cathode | LME Grade A or equivalent (BS EN 1978, ASTM B115, GB/T 467-2010), brand, bundle weight | Refined metal, not scrap: standard customs clearance |
| Copper concentrate | Cu 28–40% range, payable and penalty elements, moisture, lot size | China: GB/T 20424-2025 limits for Pb, As, F, Cd and Hg |
| Aluminium UBC scrap and A7 ingots | ReMA Taldon/Talcred for UBC; Al99.70 (GB/T 1196) for A7 ingots | China: GB/T 38472-2019 covers only recycled cast aluminium alloy, so confirm with your customs broker how UBC is classified. India: PSIC for scrap |
| Coltan (tantalite ore) | Ta2O5 content, radioactivity reading, traceability | Due-diligence and traceability documents, SKR |
| Gold bars and nuggets | Refined or unrefined, assay at an agreed laboratory | Due diligence (KYC/CIS) before any offer |
China
Copper and aluminium scrap: the GB/T recycled raw material standards
Since 1 November 2020, China imports recycled brass, copper and cast aluminium as raw materials, not solid waste, provided each lot meets GB/T 38470-2019 (brass), GB/T 38471-2019 (copper) or GB/T 38472-2019 (cast aluminium alloy) (S&P Global). The standards set minimum metal content, recovery and inclusion limits by grade, and cargo that fails them is treated as waste and refused.
What this means for your order:
- Name the GB/T standard and grade in the contract, not only the ReMA grade name. “Millberry” or “bare bright” is a trade description; the GB/T grade is what Chinese customs checks.
- Have the cargo inspected against that standard before loading in Tanzania, by you or an inspection company you appoint. It is far cheaper to reject a container in Dar es Salaam than at a Chinese port.
- Keep sampling records and photos of each container with the shipping documents.
Copper concentrate: harmful-element limits
China limits lead, arsenic, fluorine, cadmium and mercury in imported heavy-metal concentrates under GB/T 20424-2025, which took effect on 1 September 2025 and replaced GB/T 20424-2006 (standard listing). Ask for these five elements in the assay for every lot, alongside copper, gold, silver and moisture. Our concentrate lots typically fall in the 28–40% Cu range; the exact assay and penalty elements are confirmed lot by lot. How concentrate is valued (payable copper, treatment and refining charges, penalties) is explained on our copper concentrate page.
Food and agricultural products
Tamim International is registered with China Customs (GACC) as an overseas exporter of food products, as Decree 248 requires for products such as edible oils, oilseeds, nuts and unroasted coffee. Registration details are shared with buyers on request. See our agricultural commodities.
India
- Metal scrap (copper wire scrap, UBC) needs a pre-shipment inspection certificate (PSIC) from an inspection agency recognised by India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Tell us which recognised agency you use; the inspection takes place in Tanzania before loading.
- Copper cathode and copper concentrate are not scrap and do not need a PSIC; the contract specification and assay govern acceptance.
Vietnam
Under Decision 13/2023/QD-TTg (in force since 1 June 2023), copper and aluminium waste and scrap are on the list of scrap Vietnam permits for import as production materials. Importers may bring in only the quantity their own plant needs, matched to its design capacity, so confirm your import eligibility before you contract. Vietnam is also a major processor of raw cashew nuts from Tanzania.
Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and other Asian markets
Import rules for scrap and concentrates differ by country and change often. Before you contract, confirm with your customs broker which permit or registration your shipment needs and which inspection standard applies. We work to your inspection agency and your contract specification.
How a shipment to Asia works
- Inquiry: you send the product, grade and the import standard it must meet (for example GB/T 38471-2019), quantity, port and Incoterm.
- Offer: we confirm availability, specification, packing and timing in writing.
- Inspection in Tanzania: you or your inspector see the cargo, sample it and arrange the assay or grading. You pay nothing at this stage.
- Contract and payment: once you are satisfied, we sign the contract and you pay by T/T as it sets out.
- Loading and documents: containers are loaded and sealed at Dar es Salaam, and we issue the shipping documents.
- Delivery: CIF to your port (for example in China, India or Vietnam) or DDP to your premises.
Documents for Asian imports
Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, the inspection or assay certificate named in the contract, and the Tanzanian mineral export permit where it applies. For gold, coltan and other metals we also provide traceability and due-diligence documents and an SKR (safe keeping receipt). Always verify an SKR directly with the custodian that issued it.
Frequently asked questions
Do you export copper scrap to China?
Yes. We supply Millberry copper wire scrap to Asian buyers on CIF or DDP terms. For China, the cargo has to meet GB/T 38471-2019, so we agree the grade in the contract and you inspect before loading.
Does your copper scrap meet GB/T 38471-2019?
Compliance is confirmed lot by lot through inspection against the grade named in your contract, not by a blanket statement. That protects you at the Chinese port.
Is your copper concentrate within China’s arsenic limits?
Every lot is assayed. Ask for lead, arsenic, fluorine, cadmium and mercury results and compare them with the GB/T 20424-2025 limits before you sign.
Do you accept letters of credit?
No. Payment is by T/T only, after you have inspected the goods and signed the contract. We never ask for advance payment.
Are you registered with GACC?
Yes, Tamim International is registered with GACC as an overseas exporter of food products. Details are shared on request.
Request a quotation
Send the product, grade, the import standard it must meet, quantity, destination port and Incoterm. Request a quotation, or read our export markets overview and browse metals and minerals.