Juan Ignacio Díaz, recently appointed President and CEO of the International Copper Association (ICA), completed a visit to ICA Asia’s headquarters in Beijing, engaging with key local stakeholders. With Asia accounting for over 70 percent of global copper use, the region is pivotal to the copper industry.
The ICA Asia team, comprised of seasoned experts from copper’s end-use sectors, exchanged insights with Juan Ignacio Diaz on market dynamics and the metal’s growing role in sustainable technologies during the visit.
While in Tianjin, Mr. Díaz and the ICA Asia team met with the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) to discuss the use of copper-based products in the New Energy Vehicle (NEV) industry. Clean transportation is an important focus area for the copper industry, with electric vehicles using up to three times more copper than traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. In the meeting, CATARC presented a key component currently under development, showcasing the ongoing collaboration between ICA and CATARC on NEV technology development and testing. This collaboration continues to leverage the technical expertise of CATARC and the industry knowledge of ICA to explore copper’s future in NEVs.
Richard Xu, ICA Asia Regional Director, emphasized Asia’s key role in driving copper markets, “The dynamism of the Asian market is a testament to the versatility and indispensability of copper, especially in pioneering clean energy solutions. Our work here at ICA Asia is pivotal in fostering innovation and steering society toward a more sustainable and efficient future. We are excited to work with our partners on groundbreaking advancements in copper applications.”
Mr. Diaz also visited the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNIA) to discuss challenges and opportunities facing the global copper industry. As China accounts for more than 50 percent of global copper use, talks with CNIA President Ge Honglin and other senior officials focused on collaboration for sustainable production and market trends.
The meeting was attended by senior representatives from both associations, including CNIA Vice President Chen Xuesen, ICA Vice President Géraud Servin, ICA Asia Regional Director Richard Xu and ICA China Director James Li. The two associations discussed a range of topics covering the global copper market, ongoing global trends within the metals’ industry and copper demand.
Juan Ignacio Díaz reflected on the visit’s impact, “Copper is a catalyst for innovative and sustainable technologies that will shape our future. Our engagements with ICA Asia’s partners provided insight to the critical role copper plays in advancing green technologies and securing clean energy sources, highlighting the need for cooperation to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market.”
The visit facilitated valuable discussions, reinforcing the significance of global and local partnerships in addressing the global copper industry’s collective challenges and prospects.
