Source:  ITRI Ltd

The following is a summary of the information circulated by ITRI Ltd.  For more details and the original text please visit http://www.itri.co.uk.

Guangxi tin operations closed (14 Feb 2012)

A large number of metal enterprises, including mines, concentrators and smelters in Hechi City, Guangxi Province have closed after the Spring Festival as a consequence of cadmium pollution in the Longjiang River.

Guangxi is one of the most important tin production areas in China.  According to the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNIA), in 2011 the province produced 26,953 tonnes of refined tin and mine production (of tin) was 18,111 tonnes, accounting for 17% and 19% of total China production, respectively.

Source:  ITRI Ltd

The following is a summary of the information circulated by ITRI Ltd.  For more details and the original text please visit http://www.itri.co.uk.

Indonesian exchange starts tin trading (01 Feb 2012)

The Indonesian Commodity & Derivatives Exchange (ICDX) started trading a physical tin contract today after twice delaying the initiative.  Two lots of 5 tonnes traded before the contract settled at US$24,500/tonne.

Thirteen companies have so far registered as sellers and buyers including PT Timah, PT Refined Bangka Tin, Noble Resources and Toyota Tsusho.  The new contract is based on an online auction system for tin certificate deposits for 99.85% tin FOB registered loading ports in Indonesia.  Initially the two locations are Pangkal Balam and Mentok, both on Bangka Island.

Source:  ITRI Ltd

The following is a summary of the information circulated by ITRI Ltd.  For more details and the original text please visit http://www.itri.co.uk.

New minister to oversee Bolivia’s mining boom (25 Jan 2012)

In a recent cabinet reshuffle, former Potosi provincial governor Mario Virreira has been appointed to replace Jose Pimentel as minister for mining.  Virreira also at one time worked at the Vinto tin smelter.

The cabinet reshuffle came against a background of booming exports and a need to stimulate investment in the minerals sector.  The administration is working on new laws aimed at luring back foreign investment that has stalled since the nationalization of natural gas fields six years ago.

Bolivia’s mineral exports rose by almost a billion dollars to US$3.4 billion in 2011 amidst high metals prices.  Mining companies paid US$164 million in mining royalties to the government in 2011 and about US$272 million in taxes.

Tin is Bolivia’s third most important mining export behind silver and zinc, with metal and concentrate sales accounting for 10-15% of foreign earnings. 

Source:  ITRI Ltd

The following is a summary of the information circulated by ITRI Ltd.  For more details and the original text please visit http://www.itri.co.uk.

Vinto and OMSA may treat all Bolivian concentrates (22 Dec 2011)

The installation of a new Ausmelt furnace at Bolivia’s state-owned Vinto smelter next year will raise its production capacity to 18,000 tonnes of refined tin a year.  This additional capacity means the smelter will be able to treat all the tin concentrates produced locally.