State mining firm PT Timah Tbk, the world's second-largest tin producer, said on Wednesday that its sales of the metal dropped 20 percent in 2008 due to slowing global demand as well as widespread illegal mining.

Wachid Usman, Timah's president director said:

Tin sales had fallen to 46,438 tons in 2008 from 57,897 tons a year earlier, dragged by the global financial crisis which started to slow demand in September.

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