RPT-China copper scrap output seen peaking from 2014

(Repeats story first sent on Nov 8)

*China copper scrap collection seen surging from 2014

*China 2009 copper scrap production seen down from last yr

By Polly Yam

WUHAN, China, Nov 8 (Reuters) - China's locally-produced copper scrap is expected to peak as early as 2014, a director at powerful industry body the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, said on Sunday.

"Another five to six years, the collection of copper scrap domestically would enter into the peak period," Lu Jian, director of the information department of the association's recycling branch, told Reuters on the sidelines at the end of a two-day copper industry conference in Wuhan city in Hubei province.

He did not provide a scrap production estimate for that period but for this year Lu said the production of copper scrap in China would fall from last year's 600,000-700,000 tonnes following a sharp supply fall in the first quarter, when the global financial crisis cut demand.

"The local collection of copper scrap basically stopped in the first quarter," Lu said.

He added that imports had also fallen mainly due to reduced overseas supply and tighter customs checks on scrap imports since May, increasing the cost of imports.[ID:nnHKG257736]