China’s Ministry of Commerce has issued a first batch of export quotas for 2008 for tin and other metals. The initial allocation of tin quotas is for 15,967 tonnes, of which Yunnan Tin Company has been given 9,332 tonnes.
The total quota for primary tin and tin products for this year is 33,300 tonnes, down from 37,000 tonnes in 2007.
China’s actual refined tin exports in January-November 2007 amounted to 22,126 tonnes, although recently volumes have dropped to less than 1,000 tpm and the country has been a net importer since September. Strong domestic demand and the recently imposed 10% export duty is likely to result in exports well below the quotas.
