China leads global tin industry

China remains the major tin producer on the global tin industry arena, according to Merchant Research & Consulting Ltd. Both in mine and smelter tin production, the country is leading with 44% and 39.5% of world market, respectively.

Tin supplies are believed to be sufficient for the present-day demand coverage. The supply landscape was rather tight and unstable due to the lack of investments into the industry. Today, however with new on-stream projects and a number of added facilities across various regions, the market is harmonised. The key global tin resources in Western Africa, South East Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, China, and Russia are forecast to sustain the production levels through 2017.