Timah reports strong Q3 production but falling margins

Oct 31, 2008

Indonesia’s state-controlled tin producer PT Timah reported year-on-year increases in both mine and refined tin production in the third quarter, but rapidly rising costs greatly eroded operating margins. In its third quarter financial results, released today,...

Bolivia responds to metals price crisis

Oct 29, 2008

The Bolivian government has responded to the recent slump in metals prices by making more funds available to small-scale producers, while the county’s largest tin mine is to boost ore throughput to try to maintain cash flow, according to local press reports...

Peru tin production increasing

Oct 28, 2008

Both mine production and refined tin production by Peru’s only tin producer, Minsur SA, is up on year-ago levels in the first three quarters of 2008. Data on non-ferrous metals production released by the Ministry of Mines and Energy on Monday showed that mine...

China tightens controls on tin exports

Oct 28, 2008

China’s Ministry of Commerce has introduced further controls on tin exports, in addition to the reduction in quota tonnages for 2009 announced two weeks ago. Reuters reports that in future export licences will only be granted to companies with various minimum...

Timah reduces production

Oct 24, 2008

Indonesia’s PT Timah may produce about 45,000 tonnes this year, Corporate Secretary Abrun Abubakar told Bloomberg on Wednesday. Average production costs are at least $12,000/tonne, which would indicate the “normal price” for tin would be around...

More on Indonesia cutbacks

Oct 21, 2008

Following initial reports last Thursday, interviews with senior Indonesian officials today have confirmed that most – if not all – independent smelters in Bangka-Belitung province have stopped production. Furthermore the governor of the province has also...