Data from Brazil’s tin association SNIEE shows a 14.7% year-on-year decline in national mine production in January-September this year. Total output of tin-in-concentrate was reported at 8,101 tonnes, down from 9,495 tonnes in the same period of 2008. The drop was due to the sharp fall in production at Taboca’s Pitinga mine as a result of a major re-organisation of operations begun following its acquisition by Peru’s Minsur late last year. Production at Pitinga fell by 55% to 2,189 tonnes. This has been partly offset by a big increase in production by small-scale garimpeiro operations.
Brazil’s refined tin production declined by 4.8% year-on-year to 7,702 tonnes in January-September. Output at the Taboca/Mamore smelter declined by 48% to 2,295 tonnes, but this was mainly offset by increased production by White Solder (up 96% to 1,663 tonnes) and other plants treating concentrates from small mines (up 90% to 3,083 tonnes).
