PT Timah tin chemicals plant to start operation in March (18 Feb 10)

PT Timah hopes to start operating Indonesia’s first tin chemical factory being built in Cilegon, Java in March.  The plant has an annual capacity of 10,000 tonnes, expanding to 30,000 tonnes in 2013.  It will produce tin-based PVC stabilisers aimed at growing construction and packaging markets.

In another downstream investment, Timah has opened a 2,100 tpy capacity solder factory in Kundur in June 2009.

It was also reported that Timah plans to add seven new dredges to its fleet in 2010-2011.  PT Timah currently owns 14 ordinary dredges and 10 cutter section dredges, and also operates 30 other rented cutter section dredges.  Up to 70% of Timah’s tin production is expected to come from offshore dredging by 2012.  Timah has 500,000 ha of mining areas in Indonesia, both onshore and offshore, with an estimated tin resource of up to 1 million tonnes that it can mine up to 2025.

WBMS:  Most LME metals over-supplied in 2009 (18 Feb 10)

Preliminary data for world production and consumption of the six LME metals released by the World Bureau of Metals Statistics showed that with the exception of lead, all showed surpluses.  The surpluses would have been much more if not for the big increase in China’s imports.  However, tin is not so dependent on Chinese demand and would not be much affected if China decides to cut consumption of tin.

Minsur profits bounce back in Q4 (18 Feb 10)

Peru’s only tin miner, Compania Minera Minsur SA said Q4 net income totalled PEN179 million ((US$63 million), compared with PEN99.1 in Q4 2008.  However, full year profits in 2009 fell 24.8% to PEN693 compared to PEN921 the year before due to lower average tin prices and reduced sales volume.  The company which operates the San Rafael mine in Puno region and the Funsur smelter and refinery in Pisco region, produced 33,920 tonnes of refined metal and 37,503 tonnes of tin-in-concentrate in 2009.

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