[SMM Review] China's imports of tin ore from Myanmar decline, and the supply side of tin ore continues to be tight.

According to recent reports, China's imports of copper and tin ore from Myanmar, the world's third-largest tin producer, both fell more than 25 percent in the first two months of 2021 compared with the same period last year, according to data released by China's General Administration of Customs on Saturday. The move follows widespread protests in Myanmar, including the Mon Yuwa (Monywa), a copper mine centre, which accounts for more than 95 per cent of China's total tin concentrate imports.

According to data released by the Chinese Customs, China's imports of tin ore and its concentrates from Myanmar from January to February 2021 were 16986 tons, down 26.5 percent from a year earlier. China imported 8745 tons of tin ore and its concentrate from Myanmar in January and 8241 tons of tin ore and concentrate from Myanmar in February. China's imports of tin from Myanmar increased sixfold to 8241 tons in February alone, after the novel coronavirus outbreak seriously disrupted trade in the same period the previous year, but imports were still well below those at the end of 2020.

In his previous article "[SMM Analysis] the impact of the unrest in Myanmar on tin exports, SMM analyzed the impact of the unrest in Myanmar on tin exports: the situation in Myanmar has been evolving to a growing level since the situation in Myanmar has been plunged into continued unrest. According to SMM, the turbulent situation currently has no significant impact on the export and transportation of tin mines, and the slowdown in some tin mine transport is mainly due to the factors of epidemic prevention and control, and the concentrated return of Chinese personnel under the turbulent situation has a slight impact on the transportation of goods at the customs crossing.

It is reported that the violent conflict mainly occurred in Yangon, Myanmar, tin ore output is concentrated in the Jiagu area, so the impact is not significant. In addition to restricting transportation due to epidemic prevention and control at Ruili Port, the concentration and isolation of Chinese personnel in a turbulent situation has a certain impact on the transportation of goods, and the speed of transportation has slowed down. Prior to this, SMM has reported that the Menga Port is also accepting a large number of Chinese personnel returning from the WA State, which will affect the transportation of tin mines from time to time.

At present, according to SMM, domestic tin mine supply continues to show a tight pattern, and Myanmar's tin mine import is still limited by epidemic prevention and control measures. Recently, the relevant Myanmar customs ports have irregularly affected the transportation of goods due to the acceptance of a large number of Chinese personnel returning from Myanmar, and the growth of tin imports is expected to remain limited in March.