For the third month in a row China’s official customs figures show extremely low tin exports in April. Data released today indicates that shipments were again 99% down on year-ago levels, at only 15 tonnes of refined tin and alloy. Meanwhile refined tin imports were 1,254 tonnes, up 85% on April 2007. China has been a net importer of tin in seven of the last eight months since September 2007.
China is also stepping up its imports of tin concentrates, which rose 16% year-on-year to 590 tonnes in April. Year-to-date imports are up 53% to 2,783 tonnes (gross weight), with Vietnam accounting for more than half the total.
