China refined tin output up 6.5% in June amid overseas demand recovery

SHANGHAI, Jul 8 (SMM) – Refined tin output in China continued to recover in June, as demand picked up with the resumption of work overseas. Downstream orders improved from the previous months even as they failed to rise to levels of the same period last year.  

China’s production of refined tin increased 6.51% from May to 12,490 mt in June, showed SMM data.

Meanwhile, raw materials supply remained tight and the situation may last until the second half of July, as major ore supplier Myanmar has extended its coronavirus lockdown measures to July 15. Mining enterprises in Myanmar have kept their operating rates at low levels. Shortage of tin ore and reduced treatment charges (TCs) drove some Chinese smelters to scale back production. 

SMM expects China’s refined tin output to slip to around 12,000 mt in July, given headwinds of ore supply tightness, the arrival of a slack season and production cut at some smelters. Most tin smelters in China said they will maintain stable operation this month.