US copper usage dipped slightly to 7,461 mln pounds in 2006, a 2.6% decrease from 2005’s 7,660 mln pounds. Exports of mill products in 2006 rose for the fourth year in a row, up 2.0% to 920 mln pounds. Imports, at 1,238 mln pounds, were up 5.9% from 2005. US copper mine production increased by 5.1% to 2,642 mln pounds from the 2005 level of 2,514 mln pounds.