The latest official data shows China imported 1,198t refined tin in April, down by 27% year-on-year and 24% compared to the previous month. The biggest decline was in imports from Indonesia, which fell by 68% y/y. This fits with a 16% y/y fall in Indonesian exports to an eight-month low as domestic smelters cut back production. The concentrate imports in China in April also declined greatly from 11,780t in March to 3,166t in April. The big imports in March were mainly from Myanmar, with a very low average tin content.
China’s refined tin exports increased have increased significantly in March and April. China exported 672t and 501t refined tin in March and April respectively, while the highest monthly export in 2012 was 204t. The total exports in January – April of this year were 1,293t, up by 108% y/y.
