China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) issued a second batch of 2009 export quotas for a range of metals at the end of June. The quotas granted to exporters covered tin tungsten, molybdenum, indium, antimony, silver and rare earths. The quota for tin and tin products was set at 8,667 tonnes, this following an initial allocation of some 23,300 tonnes.
China’s actual exports of tin have fallen sharply in the first half of this year, while imports have risen. This was because the Chinese domestic market tin price was well above the LME price until early May. Refined tin exports in January-May amounted to only 57 tonnes while exports of tin semis and other tin products were 1,480 tonnes.
