Tin prices rise on Myanmar supply worry

25th May 2023 By: Reuters

Tin prices rose on Thursday on renewed concerns about plans by a major tin producing region in Myanmar to suspend mining later this year.

A detailed plan to suspend all mining activities in a region controlled by Myanmar's ethnic Wa militia force from August 1 was released earlier this month, the International Tin Association (ITA) said in a statement on Wednesday.

"It sends a strong message to the mining sector about the (Wa) government's unwavering commitment to promote sustainable mining practices, protect the environment, and safeguard the welfare of mine workers," the ITA said.

The Wa militia, which announced the planned mining suspension last month, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Three-month tin on the London Metal Exchange was up 1.3% to $24 270 a tonne at 07:09 GMT, while the most-traded June tin contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange advanced 2.2% to 199 050 yuan ($28 797.33) a tonne.

The suspension announcement last month sent tin prices sky-rocketing, with China's Yunnan Tin 000960.SZ, the world's top refined tin producer, saying the mining halt could lead to a further tightening of global tin supply.

"We are revising up our tin price forecasts for 2023 from $20,000 a tonne to $25 000 a tonne as a number of regulatory changes point to a looming supply crunch in the global tin market," said analysts at BMI in a note.

While Chinese demand remains tepid, the seaborne tin market will see a tighter market in the coming months which will support prices, BMI said.

LME aluminium rose 0.3% to $2 212.50 a tonne, zinc declined 1.5% to $2 277.50 a tonne, lead eased 0.3% to $2 042.50 a tonne, copper rose 0.4% to $7 934.50 a tonne and nickel increased 2.4% to $21 230 a tonne.

SHFE aluminium shed 0.4% to 17 650 yuan a tonne, zinc declined 2.1% to 19 050 yuan a tonne, lead eased 0.1% to 15 270 yuan a tonne, copper dropped 0.8% to 63 460 yuan a tonne, while nickel rose 3.1% to 169 080 yuan a tonne.