Official statistics from Bolivia’s ministry of mines and metallurgy show increased production of its three main mining revenue earners – silver, zinc and tin – in the first quarter of this year. Production of tin-in-concentrates rose by 4.1% year-on-year to 5,080 tonnes valued at US$122 million, while silver and zinc production both increased by 4.9%. Tin production by state-controlled operations increased by 32% to 2,693 tonnes, although this mainly reflects the nationalisation of the Colquiri tin-zinc mine in the middle of last year. There will be a dip in second quarter production as a result of the strike at the Huanuni mine in May.
Bolivian refined tin production in the first quarter was almost unchanged from the previous year, at 3,434 tonnes (+0.2%), with production at both state-owned Vinto and private company OMSA stable at the same levels as a year earlier.
