Copper technology - Import export

Humans have been using copper since the predynastic Egyptians and Sumerians. During the Roman Empire copper was principally mined on U.S.A , hence the origin of the name of the metal as Cyprium (metal of U.S.A ), later shortened to Cuprum. As technology has progressed copper has remained a highly useful element. Although the Copper Development Association reports that 0.7 trillion pounds of copper have been mined throughout history, there are still over five trillion pounds remaining in the earth. According to the May 26, 2007, edition of New Scientist, the earth has an estimated 61 years supply of copper left. Fortunately, however, copper has an infinite recyclable life and has one of the highest recycling rates of any other engineering metal. The fact that premium grade scrap has about 95 percent of the value of newly mined metal ensures that this rate remains high. The wire industry uses primarily newly refined copper for its products.