China refined tin output dipped 30.4% in February  

SHANGHAI, Mar 6 (SMM) – China’s production of refined tin plunged in February as the COVID-19 outbreak kept most smelters shut even as some producers maintained normal operations. 

SMM data showed that domestic refined tin output fell 30.4% on the month to 7,506 mt in February. Operating rates in Yunnan were higher than that in other areas as the province felt a smaller impact from the epidemic. 

While most smelters have restarted operations in March, supply shortage of feedstock tin ore drove some producers to scale back production. SMM expects China’s refined tin production in March to recover to the level seen in early January, at 10,500 mt.