The US Defense National Stockpile Center announced on 21 December that it had awarded approximately 4,000 tonnes of refined tin to two companies following its recent solicitation of bids for long term sales contracts. The tin is to be drawn down from the government stockpile over the next six months.
The DNSC said that the sales were made to Traxys North America and Elmet in Mexico and were valued at some US$71 million. New York trader Traxys has been the main buyer of US stockpile tin for a number of years.
The sales account for roughly a half of the remaining tin held by the DNSC, with the balance also likely to be disposed of in 2008.
