Data released by Indonesia’s trade ministry today shows a 29.5% year-on-year fall in tin checked for export in September to 7,755 tonnes. This is the lowest monthly total since April and reflects the impact of a police clampdown on illegal mining which began in late August.
As is usual, most tin exported is transhipped via Singapore. The top three destinations in September were Singapore with 6,881 tonnes, Malaysia with 726 tonnes, and the Netherlands with 51 tonnes. Other export destinations include China, Taiwan and Pakistan.
The year-to-date tonnage, at 75,551 tonnes, is almost exactly the same as in the same period of 2008 according to ITRI’s records. The twelve month rolling total (reflecting very low sales in the final quarter of last year) is 88,178 tonnes.
