Japan tin imports plummet
Japan’s imports of refined tin have dropped sharply in the first two months of 2009, as consumption has been badly affected by the global economic recession coupled with the strength of the yen. Imports in February amounted to only 1,210 tonnes, 60% lower than...Timah confirms earnings slump
Indonesia’s state-controlled tin producer PT Timah today released audited financial results which showed that its net earnings fell by 25% in 2008 to Rp 1,342 billion (US$141 million). The company made a small net loss of Rp 149 billion ($13 million) in the...China keeps importing tin
Official customs data released on Monday show China importing 1,095 tonnes of refined tin in February, while exporting just 4 tonnes of refined tin or alloy. Major suppliers of tin metal last month were Indonesia (509 tonnes) and Bolivia (202 tonnes). In the first two...Bolivian production increases despite price crash
Newly released official data shows that Bolivia’s tin production rose last year despite the slump in prices in the final quarter. Mine production of tin-in-concentrate rose by 8.4% from 15,972 tonnes in 2007 to 17,320 tonnes in 2008. Most of the increase came...Global tinplate recycling rates up
Following the release of EU data by APEAL last week, the World Steel Association (formerly IISI) yesterday confirmed that there was a global increase in recycling rates for steel cans in 2007. The Brussels based organisation said that 7.2 million metric tons of steel...Police stop four Indonesian dredges
Marine police have stopped four cutter suctions dredges operating on PT Timah offshore mining leases under suspicion of having “inadequate licences” according local press and news agencies. "Every foreign ship must obtain an operating permit issued by...Korea agency continues purchases
South Korea has bought 100 tonnes of tin ingot for shipping by May 10 to the port of Busan and is seeking another 300 tonnes, the state-run Public Procurement Service said on Friday. The agency bought the first tranche at a premium of $360/tonne c.i.f. over the LME...Slump in China’s tin production
Preliminary base metals production figures released by China’s National Bureau of Statistics show that February refined tin production fell by 44% year-on-year to 4,530 tonnes. Cumulative production in January-February was only 9,645 tonnes, 43% lower than in...Russian steelmakers report better tinplate business
Russian steel companies Severstal and MMK have both reported high capacity utilisation rates at their tinplate operations in the USA and Russia respectively. In the case of Severstal’s business, tinplate is faring much better than other steel products in North...
