Tin exports by Indonesia surge 24% in Dec ‘16; Chinese imports rise

By Anil Mathews

BEIJING (Scrap Monster): The preliminary figures released by the Indonesian Trade Ministry indicate significant rise in tin exports by the country during the month of December 2016.

Indonesian Exports-Dec ‘16

The exports amounted to 6,051 tonnes, 24% higher over the previous month. The above figures are based on pre-shipment checks carried out by surveying companies and include tin solder and refined metal ingots. The trading volume on the ICDX totaled 5,980 tonnes during the month.

The country’s tin exports during the entire calendar year 2016 totaled 63,559 tonnes, down by 9.4% when matched with the previous year. According to ITRI, the lower shipments during the year are mainly on account of flooding in certain parts of the country and imposition of stricter regulation by government. The enforcement of stricter regulation during the second half of 2015 and early-2016 led to closure of operations at a number of mining areas and smelters. The output from Bangka Islands was impacted due to flooding during early-2016. The fall in tin grades also has contributed to decline in exports, ITRI noted. Going forward, imposition of stricter environmental regulations by authorities and continuing grade decline will impact production and shipments in 2017. The country’s refined tin exports in 2017 are likely to maintain 2016 levels.

Indonesian Exports-Nov ‘16

The tin exports by the country had declined significantly during the month of November 2016, in comparison with the month before. The exports had declined by almost one-fourth over the previous month to 4,892 tonnes. ITRI noted that ICDX activity remained subdued in early November this year, but witnessed recovery in volumes towards the end of the month.

Chinese Imports-Dec ‘16

The latest data released by the Chinese Customs authorities suggest marginal rise in imports of tin ore, concentrates and refined metal during the month of December last year. The gross weight of tin ore and concentrate imports by the country during the month was 46,538 tonnes with an estimated 5,400 tonnes contained tin. The imports of ores and concentrates were up sharply by 5% over the previous year. The country’s imports had totaled 44,322 tonnes during December 2015.

Myanmar accounted for nearly 98.8% of the Chinese imports during the month. Bulk of the imports was through the border with Myanmar’s Wa County. The cumulative imports from Myanmar during the entire year 2016 totaled 472,506 tonnes gross weight with an estimated 57,000 tonnes contained tin. Nearly one-fifth of the imports are believed to have come out of the Wa government’s stocks.

The country’s refined tin metal imports in December ’16 rose sharply by 44% over the previous year to 1,692 tonnes. Bolivia and Myanmar accounted for 84% of tin metal import by China during the month. The imports from Bolivia and Myanmar totaled 801 tonnes and 628 tonnes respectively. The imports from Bolivia had been strong since September last year. However, the rise in exports from Myanmar was unexpected. The combined imports of the metal during the entire year 2016 amounted to 10,088 tonnes, marginally down by 2% from 2015.

Chinese Imports-Nov ‘16

The gross weight of tin ore and concentrate imports by the country during November last year was 44,533 tonnes with an estimated 5,300 tonnes contained tin, rising by 17% over the previous year. Myanmar accounted for nearly 99.7% of the Chinese imports during the month. The refined tin imports by China declined sharply by 36% over the previous y