【SMM News】Groundbreaking ceremony held for Nathan Trotter’s tin smelter in the US

A top secondary tin producer based in the United States, Nathan Trotter, has started construction on its $65 million Tin Ridge smelter located in Virginia.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Secretary of Commerce & Trader Juan Pablo Segura joined Nathan Trotter’s leadership team and American lawmakers to take part in the on-site ceremony marking the start of the smelter’s construction.

Even though the United States is the world’s second-biggest tin consumer and has classified tin as a critical mineral, it now depends on imports for around 75% of its tin. Domestically, it only has a small-scale secondary tin production capacity covering different grades.

Tyler Morris, Vice President and Partner of Nathan Trotter, said: “As global competition grows and the demand for critical minerals hits extremely high levels, our new advanced tin processing plant will play a significant and historic part in reinforcing our country’s weak tin supply chain.”

Other speakers at the event emphasized the advantages the project will bring to the local economy. They also noted its role in boosting national security by bringing critical mineral supply chains back to the United States.

This 115,000-square-foot facility is built to handle both tin concentrates and scrap materials. It’s predicted to generate about 118 new job opportunities within the state.

In October 2024, the company got a $19 million funding support from the Department of Defense. The money is used to increase the country’s tin smelting and refining capabilities. Later, in May 2025, it signed a letter of intent with Trinity Metals—a tin mining company from Rwanda—to set up a US-Rwandan tin supply chain.