Description
Tamim International supplies copper concentrate to smelters and concentrate traders. We are an export company: we source concentrate from producers, prepare it for export and ship it from Dar es Salaam. Every written offer states the copper grade of the lot, the elements covered by the assay, the packing and the delivery term.
What is copper concentrate?
Copper concentrate is the product of crushing, grinding and froth flotation of copper sulphide ore. It is a fine, dark powder made mostly of copper, iron and sulphur minerals such as chalcopyrite, and it is sold to smelters that turn it into copper anode and, after refining, copper cathode. Commercial concentrates typically contain around 20% to 40% copper, with the rest made up of sulphur, iron, silica, moisture and smaller amounts of other elements. Some of those elements, such as gold and silver, add value; others, such as arsenic, reduce it.
Product overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Product | Copper sulphide concentrate |
| Copper grade | Lots typically 28% to 40% Cu; the grade of each lot is stated in the offer |
| Assay | Cu, moisture and the other elements agreed in the contract (see below) |
| Packing | Confirmed in each offer (for example big bags loaded in containers) |
| Port of loading | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
| Delivery terms | CIF to your port of discharge, or DDP to your named destination |
| Export authorisation | Each shipment exported under a mineral export permit issued in Tanzania |
| Payment | T/T, staged as set out in the contract; no payment before inspection and contract signing |
| Inspection | In-person inspection and sampling at our Dar es Salaam warehouse before contract; independent assay as agreed |
What the assay covers
Copper grade alone does not tell a smelter what a concentrate is worth. Our offers state results for the elements that matter commercially, as agreed with each buyer, typically:
- Payable metals: copper (Cu), and gold (Au) and silver (Ag) where present
- Major components: sulphur (S), iron (Fe), silica (SiO2) and moisture (H2O)
- Penalty elements: arsenic (As), and others such as lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), mercury (Hg), antimony (Sb) and bismuth (Bi) as the smelter requires
Samples can be taken at our warehouse in your presence or by an inspection company you appoint, so the assay you rely on matches the material that is loaded.
How copper concentrate is valued
Unlike copper cathode, copper concentrate is not sold at a simple price per tonne. A concentrate contract values the material on the metal it contains, then deducts the smelter’s charges. The usual elements, described in detail in COCHILCO’s study of copper concentrate commercial terms, are:
- Payable copper. Not all contained copper is paid for. Contracts apply a metallurgical deduction, either a percentage of the copper or a fixed number of grade units.
- Metal price. Payable copper is priced against the LME copper price over an agreed quotational period.
- Treatment and refining charges (TC/RC). The smelter’s charge for processing: TC per dry tonne of concentrate and RC per pound of payable copper.
- Penalties. Charges for impurities above agreed limits. Arsenic is the most commonly penalised element.
- Precious metal credits. Gold and silver, where present above agreed levels, are paid for less a refining charge.
Each Tamim International offer states the price basis for the lot. Because the value depends on these terms, compare offers on the same basis rather than on headline price alone.
Export from Tanzania
Under Tanzanian mining law, minerals may only be exported with an export permit issued after approval and payment of the applicable royalties and government fees, and the consignment is examined, weighed and sealed by an authorised officer before it leaves (summary of Tanzania’s mineral export requirements). Every shipment of copper concentrate we export goes through this process, and the permit and related documents are part of the shipping file.
Inspect before you pay
Copper concentrate is a frequent subject of fraudulent offers that ask for advance payments against documents alone. We work the other way round.
- Send your inquiry with the grade, quantity, destination and delivery term you need.
- Receive a written offer stating the lot’s grade, assay elements, packing and price basis.
- Inspect and sample the material at our Dar es Salaam warehouse, in person or through an inspection company you appoint.
- Sign the contract once you are satisfied with the material and the assay.
- Pay and ship. Payment by T/T is made in the stages set out in the contract, and the concentrate is shipped from Dar es Salaam on the agreed CIF or DDP terms.
Export documents
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list and weight record
- Bill of lading
- Certificate of origin
- Mineral export permit
- Assay or inspection report, as agreed in the contract
- Any further documents required by your country’s import rules
What to include in your inquiry
- Required copper grade range and any limits on arsenic or other penalty elements
- Monthly or per-shipment quantity, and contract length
- Destination port, or delivery address for DDP
- Delivery term: CIF or DDP
- Sampling, assay and umpire arrangements you require
- Target first shipment date
Frequently asked questions
What copper grade is your concentrate?
Lots typically range from 28% to 40% Cu. The grade of each lot is stated in the offer and confirmed by assay before shipment.
How is the price of copper concentrate calculated?
On payable copper priced against the LME, less treatment and refining charges and any impurity penalties, plus credits for gold and silver where they apply. The price basis is stated in each offer.
Can copper concentrate be exported from Tanzania?
Yes, with a mineral export permit, after the applicable royalties and fees are paid and the consignment is examined and sealed by an authorised officer. We obtain the permit for every shipment.
Do I have to pay before I see the concentrate?
No. You inspect and sample the material first, and payment by T/T is only made after you are satisfied and the contract is signed.
Which delivery terms do you offer?
CIF to your port of discharge, or DDP to your named destination.
Related products
- Copper cathode
- Millberry copper wire scrap
- All products in Metals & Minerals
Ready to discuss your requirements? Request a quotation with the grade, quantity and destination.
