Partial resumption of mining in Wa State, excluding tin

Leaders of Wa State have authorised a partial resumption of mining in the area from 3rd January 2024, although most tin mines will remain closed for now. A mining ban came into force on 1st August 2023.  According to a document seen by ITA, on 28th December 2023 the...

Wa State Reveals Further Details on Mining Suspension

Three weeks into Wa State’s mining ban, new information has surfaced, highlighting plans to approve processing plants and changes to mineral rights ownership. As the cessation of all mining activities since 1st August has seen ore transport vehicles grounded and...

Myanmar’s Wa State announces tin mining suspension from August

Wa State, Myanmar, has announced the suspension of its mining operations from 1st August 2023. ITA estimates this would represent about 10% of the world’s tin concentrate supply. The document released on 15th April 2023 by the Wa State Central Economic Planning...

Refined imports fall on quiet Chinese market

China’s imports of refined tin halved in June as the large arbitrage waned amidst weaker demand for the metal. In September 2021, prices on SHFE overtook the LME to open an import arbitrage, encouraging metal into China. With the global supply of tin tight during this...

Tax change to challenge Myanmar miners

The Wa State government has raised export tariffs on mineral products – including tin – as it attempts to navigate rising inflation. According to a document seen by ITA China, the Wa State Central Economic Planning Board raised the export tariffs on all...

Myanmar exports drop on major port closure

Chinese imports of tin ores and concentrates from neighbouring Myanmar dropped considerably in April as the closure of a major port prevented trade. China imported some 15,811 tonnes of ores and concentrates in April according to the latest customs data. Some 60% of...

Myanmar explosion prompts mine safety review

The local government will review safety protocols following an explosion in the major mining region of Man Maw, Myanmar. On 4 May, an explosion at a mining site in Man Maw tragically killed nine workers, injuring a further 30. In response, the local government has...

High China price sees import surge

The latest customs data from China indicates that the country imported significant quantities of tin during March, likely because of the high local price. China imported some 28,986 tonnes of tin ores and concentrates (gross weight) in March 2022. This material was...

China’s concentrate imports spike as backlog clears

Imports of tin ores and concentrates into China jumped significantly in January as a backlog of deliveries from the end of 2021 was cleared. The gross weight of imports into China totalled some 39,989 tonnes in January 2022, some 200% higher than in December 2021....