LONDON, Mar. 18 -- The global refined tin market was in a slight surplus of 500 metric tons in January, the World Bureau of Metal Statistics said Wednesday.

Global refined tin production was 30,900 tons and demand was 30,400 tons in January, the statistics bureau said.

U.S. apparent consumption in January was exceptionally low at 600 tons due to the very limited level of reported imports, the bureau said.

Japanese consumption bounced back to 3,100 tons in January from a very low level in the same period a year ago.

Total reported stocks rose during January and ended the month 900 tons higher than at the end of December 2009. Almost all recorded stocks are now held in Asia, the bureau said.

Global tin mine production was 29,900 tons.