Analysts See Rising Tin Prices

SHANGHAI, July 23 -- Reuters yesterday published the results of its latest survey of analysts' price forecasts for the LME metals in 2010 and 2011. Over 50 companies participated in the poll, of which 26 provided tin price projections for this year and 23 for 2011. The averages of the tin price forecasts for the two years were $17,376/tonne for 2010, rising to $18,767/tonne in 2011. The actual average LME cash settlement price in the first half of this year was $17,529/tonne.

Mitsui Bussan Commodities commented that "tin is performing quite well this year, and it also has a supply constraint," while Metal Bulletin Research cautioned that "stocks are still falling, but with concerns about the economic outlook the trend may be fragile." Virtual Metals noted that tin was the only one of the LME metals for which a physical supply deficit was expected in 2010.