Tin shipments from Myanmar are on the rise

Supplies of tin ore and concentrate from Myanmar remained strong throughout the month of June this year.
Chinese imports of tin ore and tin concentrate from Myanmar continued to rise throughout June 2015. According to data released by Chinese customs, the total import of tin from Myanmar to China during the month was 24,632 tons. Imports were up 55 percent from the same month a year earlier. In addition, total imports in the first half were 135,179 tonnes, up 78 percent from the previous year.

The total number of tin exports in the six months from January to June of this year reached excessively high sales in April and May, according to ITRI's estimates. At the end of the monsoon season in Myanmar, exports from this country are also higher during June this year.

However, ITRI predicts that Myanmar's tin ore and concentrate exports will be lower in the third quarter. Depletion of resources in open pits can compensate for increased production through expanded ore processing capabilities and improved vehicles. In this regard, the institute declined to forecast the amount of tin ore and concentrate shipments in the fourth quarter of this year. However, ITRI predicts that total tin exports from Myanmar will reach 35,000 tonnes throughout 2015. At the same time, the situation will be closely monitored, and revision of the goals announced, if necessary, as specified by ITRI.

It should be noted that the Yunnan Tin Group had previously predicted a sharp drop in tin supplies from Myanmar. At the same time, there was a significant decline in Chinese demand for tin compared to the previous year, which amounted to 13.8 percent. In addition, Japanese demand for the metal was slightly lower than last year. According to the latest report from the World Bureau of Metals Statistics (WBMS), the global tin market recorded a slight deficit in January-May this year.