Peruvian tin producer Minsur reported a 3.8% year-on-year increase in refined tin production in Q3 2026, supported by higher mine output and increased throughput at its Pisco smelter.

The world’s second-largest refined tin producer reported quarterly output of 9,028 tonnes, up 29% from Q2 2026 as production recovered following scheduled smelter maintenance earlier in the year…

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A new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity globally will more than double between 2026 and 2031, highlighting continued long-term opportunities for tin demand in solar panel manufacturing.  

Tin is an essential component of solar technology, connecting and conducting generated electricity as solar ribbon – the silver strips visible across the front of the panels…

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Tin miner Alphamin Resources (TSXV: AFM; JSE AltX: APH) will sell a portion of concentrate from its Bisie mine in eastern DR Congo to US recycler Nathan Trotter’s new smelter.

Under the agreement, Alphamin will supply up to 3,600 tonnes of tin-in-concentrate annually, equivalent to approximately one-fifth of Bisie’s annual production, for an initial two-year period…

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Global refined tin use is expected to fall 2.2% in 2026, as a slowdown in China’s solar market, continued macroeconomic weakness and financial pressures associated with record-high tin prices weigh on demand.

The International Tin Association (ITA)’s latest Tin Use Study 2026 report, released on Friday 06 November, estimates that refined tin use unexpectedly fell 1.3% in 2025, largely driven by weaker industrial activity in China…

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Hydrogen is attracting increasing interest as an alternative energy carrier, particularly for transport and industries looking to reduce carbon emissions. While much research focuses on producing hydrogen, another important challenge is how to use it efficiently.

Hydrogen fuel cells offer one solution, generating electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. They are already used in applications including vehicles and backup power systems, with further development underway for heavy transport and aviation.

However, improving their cost, performance and durability remains important for wider adoption. New research from HUST suggests that tin could help address some of these challenges.

How do hydrogen fuel cells work?

Hydrogen fuel cells work in a similar way to batteries, producing electricity through chemical reactions rather than combustion. However, unlike a battery that needs recharging, a fuel cell can continue generating electricity as long as it receives a supply of hydrogen and oxygen.

One widely used type is the proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell, which contains two electrodes separated by a thin membrane.

Hydrogen enters one side of the cell, where a catalyst separates it into positively charged particles called protons and negative electrons. The protons pass through the membrane, while the electrons travel around an external circuit, creating an electric current that can power a motor or other equipment.

On the opposite side, oxygen from the air combines with the protons and electrons to produce water.

The process generates electricity, heat and water without directly producing carbon dioxide. However, its overall environmental impact depends on how the hydrogen is produced.

A key component of PEM fuel cells is the catalyst, which helps these reactions take place efficiently. Platinum is commonly used because of its excellent catalytic properties, particularly for the reaction involving oxygen.

However, platinum is expensive, and its performance can gradually decline as the catalyst deteriorates. Developing catalysts that remain effective for longer is therefore an important area of research.

How tin could improve fuel-cell catalysts

Researchers at HUST have investigated how incorporating tin into platinum-based catalysts could improve their performance.

Their latest research, published in the journal Small, focuses on a catalyst containing platinum, cobalt and tin (PtCoSn).

The team used a technique called atomic layer deposition, which enables materials to be built up layer by layer with exceptional precision. By alternating the deposition of different materials, this approach provides precise control over their composition and spatial distribution of individual components, offering unique opportunities to engineer complex catalyst architectures at the atomic scale.

This enabled them to incorporate tin and cobalt into tiny platinum-based particles, creating an alloy supported by a protective structure containing tin oxide. This distinctive architecture combines atomic-scale compositional control with hierarchical structural protection.

The tin-containing material helps improve the catalyst in two ways.

First, the combination of metals enhances the reaction involving oxygen, which is essential for generating electricity in the fuel cell.

Second, the tin oxide structure helps protect the catalyst from deterioration. It reduces the loss of cobalt from the alloy and helps prevent the tiny particles from moving and joining together, which can reduce their effectiveness over time.

Rather than replacing platinum, tin helps improve its performance and stability, potentially allowing fuel cells to operate more effectively for longer.

Promising results for fuel-cell durability

The researchers tested their catalyst in a laboratory PEM fuel cell, achieving a peak power density of 1.46 watts per square centimeter.

More importantly, the fuel-cell assembly showed only 14.4% performance degradation after 30,000 accelerated durability cycles.

These tests simulate some of the stresses experienced during fuel-cell operation, allowing researchers to investigate how quickly materials deteriorate. Although they do not directly translate into a specific number of years of real-world use, the results demonstrate encouraging durability under the conditions tested.

The research highlights how carefully controlling the arrangement of tin within a catalyst can improve both its activity and stability, helping address an important challenge in fuel-cell development.

Prof. Rong Chen, the HUST team leader stated: “What makes these results particularly exciting is that we have achieved both high fuel-cell performance and remarkable durability. By designing the catalyst architecture at the atomic scale, we can tackle the fundamental degradation mechanisms that have limited the lifetime of platinum-based catalysts.”

A future opportunity for tin

Although fuel cells are already commercially established in some sectors, tin-containing catalysts remain at the research stage.

Further work will be needed to evaluate its long-term performance, manufacturing costs and suitability for larger-scale production.

Nevertheless, the findings demonstrate how tin could contribute to improving a key component of hydrogen fuel cells.

With hydrogen technologies being developed for transport, stationary power and other energy applications, tin-containing catalysts represent another potential opportunity for the metal.

For more developments in emerging tin technologies, visit Tin Valley.

Link to paper

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This new online resource provides easy access to information on tin smelters worldwide. It aims to improve transparency, support responsible sourcing and help users make informed decisions.

The database brings together key industry information, including Tin Code participation, assurance status, ratings and links to published reports, where available.

Downstream companies, manufacturers, traders, auditors and other stakeholders can use the database to find and explore smelter information in one place.

We invite everyone across the tin supply chain and beyond to explore this new resource.

Explore the Tin Smelter Database today!

👉 Access the Tin Smelter Database

We welcome your feedback as we continue to improve the database and support responsible practices across the tin industry.

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Indonesian state-owned producer PT Timah (IDX: TINS) have reported refined tin production of 5,325 tonnes in Q3, steady from the previous quarter, alongside record net profits for the first nine months of the year.

ITA estimates that PT Timah accounted for 37% domestic refined tin production in Q3, down from 90% in Q2, when output across the wider industry was heavily disrupted by the relicensing period…

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Kazakh gold producer Solidcore Resources (AIX: CORE) has approved construction of the 6 ktpa Syrymbet tin mine in northern Kazakhstan, with production expected to begin in H2 2029.

The company, which acquired a 55% stake in the project from Lancaster Group in October 2024 for US$82.5 million, announced that construction will begin in Q3 2026, open-pit mining scheduled to commence in Q3 2027…

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Mine production from Bluestone’s Renison Bell mine in Tasmania fell to 2,663 tonnes in Q3 due to processing downtime relating to repairs and power outages.

Renison’s co-owner, Australian miner Metals X (ASX: MLX) announced that despite a 6.0% increase in ore mined to 212 kt and a marginally higher average grade of 1.69% Sn, tin-in-concentrate production decreased 5.2%…

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British tin developer Cornish Metals (AIM: TIN) has raised £135 million (approximately US$181 million) from existing and new investors others to fund the planned restart of its South Crofty tin mine in Cornwall.

Existing major investors Vision Blue and the National Wealth Fund both increased their holdings, while offtake partner Glencore invested approximately US$15 million and Leonidsport invested approximately US$18 million…

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