Provisional data released by the trade ministry today shows that the tonnage of tin metal checked prior to export in October was 5,442 tonnes, 4% higher than in the previous month, despite the agreement by most Indonesian producers to halt sales from 1 October. The latest monthly figure was however down by 38% compared to the same month of last year. Indonesia shipped tin to six destinations in October, including Singapore, the Netherlands and Taiwan, the ministry said. The country exported 78,715 tonnes in the first 10 months, 4% more than the 75,778 tonnes a year ago.

“Five companies exported tin last month, including smelters outside Bangka,” Sri Nastiti Budianti, export director for mining and industry products at the trade ministry, told Bloomberg, declining to identify the producers. “Shipments are most likely for contractual sales only.”

Twenty five smelters agreed on November 2 to extend the halt until the year-end, according to Ismiyardi, head of the provincial parliament in Bangka Belitung at the time. PT Timah, the largest exporting company, was allowed to meet contractual sales, provincial Governor Eko Maulana Ali said. Timah has two smelters, in Bangka and Kundur.