Malaysian MCO halts MSC production

Jun 4, 2021

MSC will be closed until the 9 June due to the new COVID lockdown issued in Malaysia. The company has confirmed to ITA that earlier reports that the company would cease all smelting operations from 3 June were correct. The company may close for a further five days...

Goma hazards disrupt tin exports

May 27, 2021

Geological hazards near Goma, on the border of the DR Congo and Rwanda, have temporarily disrupted tin concentrate supply. On Saturday, 22 May 2021, the Nyiragongo volcano just north of the city erupted. Several earthquakes have followed in the days since – the...

Yunnan smelters close as drought limits power

May 26, 2021

In China, the majority of tin smelters are concentrated in Yunnan province, in the southwest of the country. The province is also home to a number of zinc and aluminum smelters. In early May, the Yunnan Power Grid issued a notice to all companies to reduce their...

AfriTin proves feasibility of Uis expansion

May 4, 2021

AfriTin Mining has released the results of its Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for the Uis Tin Mine. The DFS confirms the feasibility of expanding the current Phase 1 processing plant from 720 tonnes/year of tin concentrate to 1,200 tonnes. AfriTin acquired the...

MSC “no longer able to handle usual volume”

Apr 29, 2021

Malaysia Smelting Corporation (MSC) has published a notice to suppliers detailing continued issues at its Butterworth smelter. Last week, the company announced failures at two of its furnaces at Butterworth, with another being rebricked. Now, the letter to suppliers,...

Weaker Chinese demand prompts continued exports

Apr 26, 2021

Customs data from China indicates that the country was a net exporter of refined tin again in March. Net exports were some four times higher than in February. The data reveals that, in March, imports of refined tin dropped to 102 tonnes, down some 78%. This is the...