Temporary supply disruption in China

Two Chinese tin smelters (Gejiu Jinye and Gejiu Zili) suspended production from early April after the government carried out environmental pollution spot checks related to sulphur dioxide emissions.  Typical production from the disrupted smelters in Yunnan...

Myanmar shipments hit seasonal low

Latest official customs statistics released by China last week report February imports of tin ore and concentrate from Myanmar totalled 8,641 tonnes (gross weight), unchanged from February 2016, but down 72% compared to January. The latest data is unsurprising, as it...

China tin trade subdued in January

Latest official customs statistics released by China last week showed that the country’s tin ore and concentrate imports from Myanmar fell by 57% year-on-year to 31,359 tonnes (gross weight) in January, predominantly due an earlier Chinese Spring Festival...

YTC announce Dulong expansion

The Yunnan Tin Company has approved a Yuan 2.6 billion (US$375 million) investment plan to expand production from the Wenshan Dulong zinc-indium-tin-copper mine by some 70%, it was reported in a statement filed with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange on January 11. The...

China ore and metal imports both up in December

China customs data released yesterday shows a rise in tin ore, concentrate and metal imports last month. The gross weight of ore and concentrate imports in December was 46,538 tonnes (estimated 5,400t contained tin), up by 5% compared to December 2015, while tin metal...

Rainy season hits Myanmar ore exports

Customs figures released earlier today show that the gross weight of China’s tin ore and concentrate imports in September totalled 17,802 tonnes (estimated at 2,100t contained tin), up 75% year-on-year but equal to less than half of the August total. 98% of...

Four China smelters stay closed into September

While most tin smelters in Yunnan, Guangxi and Jiangxi provinces have re-opened recently, four plants which account for 18% of national production will remain idle for up to 40 days. Two new plant closures are reported in provinces other than those affected by the...

China’s tin smelters cut production for environmental inspections

Most tin smelters in the Yunnan, Guangxi and Jiangxi provinces of China have suspended or scaled back refined tin production following special environmental inspections by the Chinese government that began on July 19. Environmental inspection teams were sent to eight...

Myanmar tin exports fall slightly in June

Latest China customs data released yesterday shows imports of tin ore and concentrates at 39,044 tonnes (gross weight) in June, of which 38,936 tonnes originated in Myanmar. The June total was down 4% on the previous month’s figure, but up by 58% compared to...

EU and US challenge China export duties on tin and other materials

The EU this week launched a challenge at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to China’s export duties on tin and other raw materials, following a very similar move by the USA last week. The US trade enforcement action against China sought the elimination of...