Myanmar’s Wa Region to Resume Tin Mining, Easing Global Shortage

The Wa Self-Governing Zone in northeastern Myanmar has announced plans to issue licenses for the development and processing of tin ore from the Man Maw mine, according to the International Tin Association (ITA). If the reopening proceeds as planned, operations could resume in the second half of 2025, alleviating disruptions in the global tin market.

Man Maw has an annual production capacity of approximately 28,000 tonnes of tin concentrate, accounting for 7-8% of global supply. Its closure in August 2023 led to a supply shortfall and drove tin prices up by more than 20%. Following reports of the mine's potential reopening, tin prices on the London Metal Exchange dropped sharply.

The closure had the greatest impact on Chinese smelters in Yunnan province, which were the primary buyers of Myanmar’s tin concentrate. According to Reuters, Chinese imports of tin concentrate declined from 94,600 tonnes in the second half of 2023 to 21,500 tonnes a year later. Efforts by Chinese companies to source tin from alternative suppliers, including Australia, Bolivia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, have yielded limited results.