Preliminary data released by the trade ministry on Monday showed that the volume of tin inspected prior to export in September rose to 11,001 tonnes, 17% higher than in the same month of last year. The data is based on reports of surveying companies as part of the export licencing system introduced in February 2007. The latest month’s figure is the third highest monthly total since the system began.
The provisional figure appears very large, given that production in Bangka and Belitung has been declining in recent months. The main consortium of private smelters made only one combined shipment of some 3,000 tonnes in this period, while refined tin production by state tin company PT Timah has been around 4,000 tpm and that of PT Koba less than 1,000 tpm
