World tin consumption picks up – WBMS
Preliminary statistics released by the World Bureau of Metal Statistics yesterday show a slight increase in world tin consumption in the first five months of 2008. Global refined tin consumption is estimated to have increased by 1.1% to 147, 900 tonnes in January-May...
Huanuni re-invests H1 profits
Bolivia’s largest tin mine reported a first half profit of US$29 million, which will be re-invested in new equipment. Business News Americas, quoting local press reports, said that the Huanuni mine, operated by the Empresa Minera Huanuni (EMH) division of...
South Korea to expand metal stockpiles
The South Korean government announced on Wednesday that it will increase the budget for its Public Procurement Service, to allow it to hold 60 days supply of 22 key metals, compared to the current 19 days’ supply of 12 metals. Tin and all the other LME metals...
Glencore and Bolivian government near final deal on mines, smelter
Glencore International and the Bolivian government are close to agreeing a 50:50 joint venture agreement to operate two tin and zinc mines as well as finally settling compensation terms for the nationalisation of the Vinto smelter in February 2007. The joint ventures...
LME tin trading volumes boom, then slump
Trading activity in tin on the London Metal Exchange grew faster than that of most other LME contracts in the first half of 2008, although volumes have dropped sharply recently. Futures and options volumes in tin rose by 21.5% to 767,000 lots in January-June compared...
Timah reports fall in first half sales volume
Indonesia’s PT Timah sold 24,000 tonnes of refined tin in January-June 2008, 21% less than the 30,456 tonnes sold during the first half of last year, Bloomberg reports. “There were some problems in onshore mines, and it was difficult to achieve optimal...
Peru national mine strike over
The week long national strike by Peruvian mine workers was officially called off on Sunday, with many having already returned to work late last week. “The mining federation has handed in a document saying they will be lifting the strike tonight,” Vice...
Indonesian exports fall as costs rise
Provisional data released by the Ministry of Trade on Friday indicated another fall in exports of refined tin from Indonesia in June. 5,461 tonnes of refined tin valued at $116.8 million was checked by official surveyors ready for export last month, according to the...
US stockpile report due in November
US government policy regarding disposals of tin and other materials from its official stockpile should become clearer by the end of this year, according to American Metal Market. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) metal stockpiles are under review by a Defense Department...