Author: Paul Ploumis09 Jan 2015 Last updated at 05:12:54 GMT

JAKARTA (Scrap Monster): The Indonesian tin exports rebounded sharply during the month of December last year.According to statistics released by Indonesia’s Trade Ministry, the country’s tin exports totaled 10,318 tonnes in Dec ’14, rising sharply by over 2000% when compared with the previous month. The country had exported only 465 tonnes of various forms of tin during November last year.

As per industry experts, the huge monthly variation in exports is primarily attributed to the uncertainty over export regulation No. 44/2014 which came into effect on November 1st, restricting the sales of non-ingot tin products. Post declaration, the trade of non-ingot forms such as solders and billets had literally come to a standstill.

According to ITRI, the cumulative tin exports by Indonesia during the entire year 2014 totaled 75,925 tonnes, down nearly 17% when compared with the preliminary 2013 total figures. The exports are down by 14% year-on-year in 2014 when matched with the final 2013 official Customs figure of 88,443 tonnes. The Tin exports during 2014 are the lowest in at least eight years.

The metal prices have declined by nearly 13% over the past one year. The low prices may further weaken the exports in 2015.