China’s Ministry of Commerce has set an annual export quota of 23,300 tonnes for tin and tin products in 2009. The quota for next year is 30% lower than the 33,300 tonne limit set for this year, which was in turn reduced from 37,000 tonnes for 2007. The ministry said that quotas were also cut for tungsten, antimony, molybdenum and indium. It raised export quotas for silver and roasted magnesium, metals that are abundant in China.
China’s actual tin exports have fallen well short of quota limits in recent years, as a result of rising local demand and the imposition of a 10% export duty on refined tin at the start of this year. Refined tin exports in January-August were only 417 tonnes, 98% lower than in the same period of 2007, although in addition some 8,500 tonnes of tin semis and other products were reported as being shipped. In recent months the Chinese authorities have been investigating whether some of the trade in other products has been carried out to avoid payment of the new duty.
