China’s Tin Ore Imports Drop Sharply in November

China’s tin ore imports totaled 12,000 tonnes in November 2024, equivalent to approximately 5,021 tonnes of tin in metal terms. This marked a 19.18% month-on-month decline and a 56.46% drop compared to the same period last year. In terms of metal content, November imports decreased by 23 tonnes from October. From January to November, total tin ore imports reached 150,000 tonnes, reflecting a year-on-year decrease of 29.68%.

Imports from key suppliers, including Myanmar and Bolivia, declined significantly in November. Myanmar accounted for 3,000 tonnes (892 tonnes in metal terms) of China’s tin ore imports. Despite intentions expressed by Myanmar’s Wa province authorities to resume tin ore mining, no timeline has been established. Analysts from SMM predict that imports from Myanmar will continue to decrease in the near term. Meanwhile, imports from the Democratic Republic of Congo saw moderate growth, while supplies from other countries remained relatively stable.