Summer break, ore shortage lower refined tin production in Jun

SHANGHAI, Jul 5 (SMM) – Production of refined tin in China shrank 6.6% on the month to stand at 12,833 mt in June, accelerating from a decline of 1.27% in May, as the summer break and a continued shortage of feedstock cut production across nearly half of the Chinese tin smelters, an SMM survey showed on Friday July 5.  

SMM learned that maintenance lowered output in Yunnan province in June, while overhaul works, ore shortages, and poor weather deterred production in Jiangxi province. 

Tightness of raw materials are unlikely to ease in July. This, together with scheduled maintenance across smelters, will continue to cut refined tin output to 12,000 mt in July, SMM estimates.