Source:  ITRI Ltd

Indonesian Smelter Plans LME Listing        

Indonesia's PT Bukit Timah has applied to the London Metal Exchange (LME) to list its "IMLI" brand of 99.90% tin ingot on the exchange. The idea to list was initiated sometime in 2009, and was formally conveyed to the exchange representative in the second half of 2010. Currently only PT Timah and PT Koba Tin, have their brands approved as good delivery to LME warehouses.
The company has the capacity to produce some 1,500 tonnes of refined tin monthly and is currently producing 600 – 800 tonnes monthly. PT Bukit Timah is part of Indoprima group, which also owns the lead producer PT Indra Eramulti Logam Industri (IMLI), Indonesia.

Source:  ITRI Ltd

PT Timah expects further decline in production    ( 16 Feb 2011 )    

Indonesia’s state-controlled PT Timah estimated that its refined tin production this year (2011) will be between 37,000 and 40,000 tonnes.  PT Timah produced 40, 413 tonnes of refined tin in 2010, down from 45,086 tonnes in 2009.

The company’s corporate secretary, Abrun Abubakar told Reuters that excessive supply will not be good for maintaining the world’s tin price.  They are also controlling production to conserve reserves.

Interest in physical tin ETF picks up    ( 16 Feb 2011 )    

Interest in the physical tin ETF (exchange traded fund), launched on 10 December last year, is starting to pick up.  Initially sales up to 30 January was only 80 tonnes, but have since moved up to 405 tonnes – all MSC tin in Malaysian and Singapore warehouses.  The tin ETF warrants now account for 2.4% of all live LME warrants, compared to 0.3% for copper and 0.1% for Nickel.

DR Congo ban may be phased out    ( 09 Feb 2011 )    

The Democratic Republic of Congo, is considering phasing out the ban on mining in North Kivu, South Kivu and Maniema provinces which prior to the ban together accounted for some 85% of the country’s tin production. Joseph Kabila, DRC’s President imposed the ban in early September 2010 to halt illegal trade. Dow Jones Newswire reported that the ban had made it hard and expensive for mineral traders to do business. It is now the armed people who are enjoying the lift as nearly all civilian dealers and miners are now in financial difficulty.