China cuts 2012 export quotas for tin (08 Nov 2011)

China will cut its export quota of tin and tin products from 18,900 tonnes in 2011 to 18,000 tonnes in 2012.

In the past few years, China export quotas for tin and tin products have been reduced substantially.  However, the export volume has always been lower than the export quotas.  

Tin at the crossroads – Tin Industry Review 2011 (07 Nov 2011)

ITRI’s latest detailed review of tin industry prospects concludes that there are still strong reasons to expect historically high tin prices 3-4 years ahead.  Global demand should be around 400,000 tonnes a year by 2015.  Mineral resources at existing operations are being depleted and production costs are expected to rise considerably.  However, in the immediate future the global economy faces major downside risks, so the short-term outlook for all metals is very uncertain.

Over the next decade technological changes offer major threats and opportunities.  The biggest risks are in the current main applications of electronic solders and tinplate, where miniaturization, new assembly technologies and lower coating weights could cut usage.  Offsetting this there are positive propects for new applications in tin chemicals, energy-related technologies such as lithium ion batteries and steel alloys.  On the balance there should be a net addition in usage from technology change in the order of 15,000 tpy or 4-5% to world consumption over 5-10 years.

World production of refined tin has been fairly stable at around 350,00 tonnes annually in recent years, dipping in 2008-2009 in line with the fall in world usage as a result of the global financial crisis.  Mine production having peaked at some 325,000 tonnes in 2005, has been declining.  Secondary refined tin production has increased, exceeding 60,000 tonnes for the first time in 2010.

Indonesian export ban backed by 25 producers  (03 Nov 2011)

Twenty five tin smelters in Indonesia including PT Timah and PT Koba Tin have agreed to extend an export ban until the year-end to boost prices. PT Timah is allowed to ship contractual sales and needs to maintain a halt on spot sales while Koba Tin will discuss contractual sales with the Bangka governor and the government. There are 32 companies in Indonesia that possess export licences, but some of these have been inactive recently. The smelters will be meeting the trade minister to discuss the ban and plans to establish a local market.

PT Timah margins dented by price fall  (01 November 2011)

Indonesia's state-controlled tin producer PT Timah reported an 81% year-on-year increase in net profit to US$99 million during January - September 2011 period, but its operating margin has slipped recently due to the fall in LME prices in the third quarter. Average margin per tonne in the year to date was US$4,895, but the figure for Q3 fell to US $3,166 per tonne. The average price received in the latest three months was US$25,970 per tonne versus delivered costs of US$21,826 per tonne.
Refined tin production and sales in January-September are slightly lower than in the same period of 2010, while mine production is slightly higher. Cumulative figures and y-o-y changes are: mine production 28,165 tonnes (+3.8%); refined tin production 28,532 tonnes (-3.7%); refined tin sales 25,266 tonnes (-13.6%).

Stellar takes full control of Heemskirk project (10 November 2011)

ASX-listed Stellar Resources has agreed to purchase Gippsland Limited's 40% stake in the Heemskirk project in Tasmania. Stellar will acquire Gippsland's interest in return for 43.5 million Stellar shares worth about AUD4 million and a tin price based royalty. Gippsland is disposing its stake to focus more on its Abu Dabbab tantalum-tin project in Egypt.
Stellar has evaluated the historical data base, completed some confirmatory drilling and undertaken metallurgical studies which revealed indicated and inferred resource amounting to 4.36 million tonnes of ore at an average grade of 1.1% tin, giving 48,000 tonnes of contained tin.

Consumers underestimate canned foods' benefits (02 November 2011)

The CFA recently commissioned a consumer survey to better understand consumers' attitudes and perceptions of canned foods to help inform those efforts. The survey uncovered that, while the majority (84 %) of Americans prepare or eat meals made with canned foods at least a couple of times a month and one-third (34 %) rely on them at least three times a week, many consumers do not appreciate all of the benefits canned foods offer.
Food packaged in steel cans can be just as nutritious (and sometimes more nutritious) than fresh and frozen varieties, yet many Americans surveyed on behalf of the Canned Food Alliance mistakenly believe otherwise. Less than half (46 %) of those surveyed recognize that canned foods count toward the government's recommended dietary guidelines. Furthermore, nearly 40 % of consumers believe that canned foods are less nutritious than frozen, and nearly 60 % believe that they are not as nutritious as fresh foods.

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