Indonesia’s PT Timah has raised its tin production target to 55,000 tonnes this year, according to the Bisnis Indonesia newspaper today.
The newspaper quoted company Commissioner R Sukyar as saying that output would be boosted by 10,000 tonnes in response to a predicted 20,000 tonne global supply shortfall.
The state-controlled company produced 44,689 tonnes of refined tin in 2006, but has stepped up production considerably since last October.
First quarter results released on Monday show that metal output in January-March was 14,350 tonnes and that Timah has stockpiled large volumes of concentrates recently. It has also recently announced plans to add to furnace capacity at its two smelters.
ITRI believes that the latest information is consistent with its forecast that total Indonesian refined tin production this year will amount to some 87,000 tonnes, with the balance provided by PT Koba Tin and some of the independent smelters which have recently been granted export licences.
