The table below shows refined tin production by the ten largest companies in 2012. Eight of the companieshave reported final data to ITRI, while the numbers for PT Timah and EM Vinto are provisional estimates. There have been no changes in the composition of the “top ten”, and the ranking of the top five companies is the same as previously, although the gap between the number one company, YTC, and the others has widened. Lower down the list the second and third Chinese companies have swapped places, with Yunnan Chengfeng overtaking China Tin, while Metallo Chemique has moved above EM Vinto.
| Company | Production, tonnes | % change | |
| 1 | Yunnan Tin (China) | 69,760 | +24.2% |
| 2 | Malaysia Smelting Corporation | 37,792 | -6.1% |
| 3 | PT Timah (Indonesia) | 29,600 | -22.4% |
| 4 | Minsur (Peru) | 25,399 | -15.9% |
| 5 | Thaisarco (Thailand) | 22,847 | -4.3% |
| 6 | Yunnan Chengfeng (China) | 16,600 | +7.6% |
| 7 | Guangxi China Tin (China) | 14,034 | -9.6% |
| 8 | Metallo Chimique (Belgium) | 11,350 | +13.4% |
| 9 | EM Vinto (Bolivia) | 10,800 | -1.5% |
| 10 | Gejiu Zi-Li (China) | 7,000 | -18.6% |
Only three of the top ten companies recorded a rise in production last year: YTC, Yunnan Chengfeng and Metallo Chimique. The growth in YTC’s production is part of a continuing trend, underpinned by consolidation of ownership of tin production in China and in line with government policy. It should be noted that the total figure of close to 70,000 tonnes, an all-time historical record for any tin company, includes offshore toll smelting and refining.
Production of the two other major integrated producers, PT Timah and Minsur, has been in decline in recent years. In the case of PT Timah this has mainly reflected loss of market share within Indonesia to the private smelters which now purchase the majority of small-scale mine production. Meanwhile the depletion of reserves and declining ore grades at Minsur’s San Rafael mine has resulted in a steady decline in production there.
The top five producers and Metallo Chimique are all members of ITRI. Taking into account production by these and other members outside the top 10 (OMSA, PT Koba Tin, Taboca, Fenix Metals and GAM), total production by ITRI members accounted for 60% of estimated global production last year.
