US pursues new approach to defence materials security
A new report to Congress makes clear that “stockpiling alone is not the answer” to ensuring the future availability of materials required for defence needs. The report on Reconfiguration of the National Defense Stockpile released by the Defense Logistics...
Indonesian consortium cuts production again
The consortium of seven Indonesian independent tin smelters expects to be operating at less than half capacity from June through the next quarter, as rising ore prices squeeze margins, a spokesman told Metal Bulletin. Bangka Belitung Timah Sejahtera (BBTS) expects...
Kasbah seeks funds to advance project
ASX-listed Kasbah Resources has announced a rights issue to raise some A$2.7 million to fund further drilling at its Achmmach tin project in Morocco. The cash will go towards 15,000 metres of diamond drilling in the Meknes Zone aimed at identifying a JORC indicated...
New Indonesian smelter gets export licence
Indonesia has approved an export permit for a new tin smelter in East Java, bringing the number of smelters allowed to export the metal to 28, a trade ministry official told Reuters. The official, who declined to be named, did not give any details on the capacity of...
Novosibirsk volumes down in Q1
Novosibirsk Integrated Tin Works (NOK), Russia's sole producer of the metal, reported that first quarter sales volumes declined by 72 percent from the year-earlier period as demand slumped, Reuters reported. First quarter sales totalled 122.3 tonnes, compared to 432.3...
Huanuni expansion approved
A plan to almost triple ore processing capacity at Bolivia’s largest tin mine has been approved, according to local press reports quoted by BNAmericas. Empresa Minera Huanuni (EMH) and state mining company Comibol will spend US$40 million to build a new mill...
Timah cuts capital spending
Indonesia’s state controlled tin company PT Timah will reduce capital spending further this year in response to adverse market conditions. Timah president director Wachid Usman said that the budget for investment this year would be reduced from Rp 900 billion...
China’s metals import boom
Official customs statistics released today show that China absorbed huge volumes of non-ferrous metals in April, although this has been mainly due to arbitrage business and stockpiling rather than strong consumption by end-users. Refined tin imports in April were a...
Indonesia quotas – still talking
Indonesia, the world's top tin exporter, still plans to limit production this year to support prices and reduce environmental damage, the director of mineral and coal production at the energy and mines ministry told Reuters. Bambang Gatot Ariyono said rules on tin...