Further slump in Japan’s tin imports
Japan’s imports of refined tin in March were only 795 tonnes, 62% down on the same month of 2008. First quarter cumulative imports amount to 3,917 tonnes, 52% lower than in Q1 2009. The slump reflects the continuing difficulties faced by export-oriented Japanese...
Two more export permits for Indonesian smelters
Indonesia approved export permits for two tin smelters in the Bangka-Belitung islands, its key source of tin, bringing the number of smelters allowed to export the metal to 27, a trade ministry official told Reuters on Friday. The new companies added to the list are...
Yunnan announces second phase of stockpiling
China’s Yunnan provincial government has announced a second round of stock financing measures to support local producers of non-ferrous metals. The first scheme began in December 2008 and allowed for up to 552,000 tonnes of metals from nine producers to be...
Renison production boost
Metals X’s Renison operation in Tasmania produced 1,439 tonnes of tin-in-concentrate in the March quarter, 61% up on the previous three months. Renison also generated a positive cash flow pf A$1.56 million in the quarter, despite lower tin prices. The mill is...
Minsur reports fall in profits
Peruvian tin miner Compania Minera Minsur SA said on Thursday that its first quarter net income fell by 30% to 132.6 million soles ($44 million) from PEN188.6 million in the same quarter a year earlier. Total first quarter sales dropped by 45% to PEN302.5 million from...
New Chinese tin smelter starts up
A new tin smelter has opened in China’s Jiangxi province, according to Antaike in Beijing. Nanshan Tin Co. Ltd. commissioned the new plant in Nankang Industrial Zone, Ganzhou, on April 9, sources from Ganzhou government said. The project has a design capacity of...
Timah reports higher sales, lower production in Q1
Indonesia’s state-controlled tin producer PT Timah reported an 8% year-on-year increase in refined tin sales in the first quarter of 2009, although production and profitability declined. The positive features of its first quarter results, released today, were...
South Crofty project looks to re-locate ore processing
The owners of the South Crofty mine in Cornwall, UK, plan to relocate surface operations as part of their plan to re-open the mine, which has been closed since 1998. The mine is now owned by Western United Mines, a joint venture between Baseresult Holdings and a group...
ITRI view on tin supply/demand position
At its six-monthly Board meeting last week, ITRI members considered the short-term outlook for world tin supply and demand. The market is expected to be in surplus by 5,000 – 10,000 tonnes in 2009 as a result of the sharp decline in world consumption caused by...