Official customs figures released on Monday show that China’s refined tin exports fell by 99.8% year-on-year to only 3 tonnes in February. Meanwhile imports were up 173% to 1,176 tonnes.
China’s net trade position has been greatly changed since the middle of last year by booming demand and supply constraints, with exports further discouraged by the imposition of a 10% export tax from the start of 2008.
Imports in January-February have amounted to 2,547 tonnes (up 93.4%), with most of the tin coming from Bolivia (698 tonnes) and Indonesia (797 tonnes).
