SHANGHAI, May 7 (SMM) – Production of refined tin in China expanded in April as smelters recovered from maintenance, showed an SMM survey.

Tin output stood at 13,911 mt in April, up 13.4% from upwardly revised 12,300 mt in March.

Major smelters held stable production last month, with Guangxi-based China Tin Group's smelter in Laibin city recovering to normal.

Overall production was also bolstered by the recovery across a handful of smelters in Jiangxi, who had suspended for equipment repair.

With healthy supplies of tin ore, some smelters slightly stepped up production last month.

China’s output of refined tin is expected to fall to 13,600 mt in May as some smelters saw inventories of raw materials decline faster after traffic control in the Wa State in April suspended tin ore imports for about a week.

Output in May is also likely to be affected by lower production enthusiasm among smelters, as treatment charges for tin concentrate edged down.

April’s production declined 2.08% from a year ago. Production in January-April amounted to 48,200 mt, down 8.12% year on year.