Shanghai Nonferrous Metals News
China’s tin ore and concentrate imports in October 2018 were 13,768 t (raw ore weight), of which 13,387 t was sourced from Burma. China’s tin ore and concentrate imports from Burma are expected at 3,300 t (in metal) during October, a decline of 11% on-month but an increase of 6% on-year.
During the first ten months of 2018, China imported 46,000 t of tin concentrate (in metal) from Burma, down 5% from 48,600 t on the same period last year. Customs data shows that China has imported 136 t of tin ingots in October this year, mainly from Indonesia; China’s tin ingots exports were 609 t, mainly via transit trade from Hong Kong.
ITRI takes the view that tin ore output in Burma has been in decline and that there will be further downward momentum going forward. Burmese tin ore inventories are expected to be exhausted by end-2018. ITRI forecasts tin ore imports from Burma at 4,000 t each for November and December 2018. Tin ore exports from Burma are expected to decline by 18% on-year in 2018.
