Blanket Mining Ban in Myanmar’s Wa State, Sharply Shrinking Import Profits and Extreme Weather in DRC Threaten to Exacerbate China's Tin Ore Shortages

SHANGHAI, May 25 (SMM) - Myanmar is China's top supplier of tin ore. In April 2023, 89% of tin ore exported from Myanmar to China came from Wa State. Therefore, the blanket mining ban in Wa State, starting from August 1, threatens to cause severe supply deficit in China.

China’s tin ore import volume in April was 18,671 mt, a decrease of 14.85% month-on-month but an increase of 18.09% year-on-year. The cumulative import volume from January to April was 74,171 mt, a cumulative decrease of 29.05% year-on-year.

In April, imports from Myanmar decreased by 11.58% MoM and imports from countries other than Myanmar dropped 25.51% MoM. The decline was mainly due to shrinking import profits, which stood at just 1,126.39 yuan/mt as of May 22, the lowest so far this year. Thin import profits may affect future imports.

China also imported 1,924 mt of tin ore from Democratic Republic of the Congo in April, a decrease of 36.9% from the previous month. DRC experienced floods and mudslides caused by extreme rainfall in early May, which may hinder exports to China in the future.