SHANGHAI, Dec 17 (SMM) – China's refined tin output stood at 8,162 mt in November, up 3.38% from October. The average capacity utilisation rate was 82.03%, up 2.68 percentage points.

The enterprises with capacity above 200 mt/month produced a total of 6,290 mt of refined tin, with the capacity utilisation rate increasing 3.47%; the enterprises with capacity at 80-200 mt/month produced 1,396 mt, with the capacity utilisation rate down 0.88%; the enterprises with capacity below 80 mt/month produced 476 mt, with the capacity utilisation rate up 4.33%.

The total output in December is expected to increase 3.75% on the month to 8,468 mt, and the average operating rate is expected to rise by 3.08 percentage points.

The operating rates at solder companies increased slightly in November, and are expected to rise further in December.

According to SMM survey, the downstream production of solder enterprises stood stable, and the output increment was mainly contributed by the production resumption of large and small scale enterprises, as the falling raw material prices in early November boosted the purchases, and the end demand remained in the peak season. While the operating rates of medium-sized enterprises fell slightly, because some enterprises received fewer orders from the photovoltaic industry.

The operating rates in December are expected to change little from November. As the end users will gradually start to restock the raw materials before the CNY holiday, the operating rates of solder enterprises may rise steadily.