China refined tin imports surge again
China imported 3,125t refined tin in July, up by 333% year-on-year and 31% compared to June. Total refined tin imports were 16,706t in January-July this year, more than three times the imports of 5,526t in the same period of last year. Of the total for the year to...
CRU forecasts revival in LME metals prices
A comparative review of price forecasts for 24 commodities published by leading UK-based consultancy CRU shows most of the LME metals performing better than other commodities in the next five years. CRU has constructed a Heat Chart rating commodities from "freezing"...
Many Indonesian private smelters closed
A Bloomberg report yesterday carried further news of smelter closures by independent smelters In Indonesia, citing the impact of low prices. The big post-Ramadan Eid al-Fitr holiday which began at the weekend is also an important factor not mentioned in the article....
Bolivian production falls in first half
Latest official figures show Bolivia's mine production and refined output of tin falling in the first half of this year. Mine production of tin-in-concentrate in January-June fell by 4.3% year-on-year to 9,482 tonnes, while refined metal production was 6,714 tonnes,...
Cookson reports lower sales, better margins
The Cookson group reported a 13% year-on-year fall in sales by its Perfomance Materials (electronics) division in the first half of 2012, although the decline partly reflected lower tin and silver prices. The division's trading profit rose by 11% to UK£50.0 million...
MSC reports difficult quarter
Malaysia Smelting Corporation reported a pre-tax loss of RM 75.0 million (US$24.2 million) in the second quarter, mainly due to problems at its 75% owned Indonesian subsidiary PT Koba Tin. Koba made a loss of RM 68.9 million in the quarter and cut production by 50% as...
Indonesian shipments down again
Preliminary trade ministry data shows that Indonesian tin metal exports fell again in July. The volume of tin checked prior to export amounted to 8,298 tonnes, down by 10% compared to July last year and 14% compared to the previous month. In the first seven months of...
Indonesian producers trim sales and production
State-controlled producer PT Timah has halted spot sales in reaction to lower tin prices while some private smelters have halted production, according to several reports this week. "For now we are not selling on the spot market and are only fulfilling long-term...
Minsur profits decline
Minsur SA said second-quarter profit fell to 61.7 million soles ($23.5 million) compared with 117.6 million soles in the same quarter a year earlier. The decline was attributed to lower tin prices and weaker sales volumes. Second-quarter net sales were 183.7 million...