The table below shows the results of a survey of the leading refined tin producers carried out by ITRI. Of the companies covered, half reported a decline in production last year, including three of the big four. The two largest companies reporting increases were the ASEAN custom smelters and refiners, MSC and Thaisarco. Both were helped by increasing Indonesian refining business, which in turn reflected the stimulus to small-scale mining activity provided by record high prices last year. In contrast, the two integrated Indonesian producers (PT Timah as shown and PT Koba Tin, which produced 6,332 t) both reported lower production. The Chinese companies experienced a mix of gains and losses, while all the South American companies reported lower output.

The biggest decline was reported by Minsur, following an enforced cut-back in mining rates in the first half of the year while its tailings storage facilities were investigated. The company’s 2012 production in Peru is expected to be at a very similar level, although output from its Taboca subsidiary in Brazil should increase significantly from the very low levels of recent years. The other likely increases this year may come from China Tin and Metallo Chimique’s secondary smelter in Belgium, both of which have increased their furnace capacity.