Following major criticism over the increase of its tin-plate prices, which were adjusted yearly by 69% to 78%, ArcelorMittal South Africa (ACLJ.J)
has toned down prices. The decision was welcomed by the packaging industry. But tin prices have yet to respond significantly to the fresh supply problems in Indonesia, which may be partly due to the strong recovery in Chinese production.
A police crackdown on illegal tin mining in Indonesia, including in Bangka-Belitung islands, has cut ore supplies. Analysts maintain the current crack down may not be as severe as the one in 2006, which halted tin production at small smelters for months, mainly because the government has tightened tin export rules. Moreover, PT Timah Tbk and PT Koba Tin, a unit of Malaysian Smelting Corp, were not affected by the crackdown.
Australia’s Metals X and China’s Yunnan Tin Group have announced that they had signed a Heads of Agreement to form a joint venture to control the MLX’s Tasmanian tin assets. Meanwhile, Cadillac Ventures Inc, a junior Toronto mineral developer, says it has failed to reach a final agreement with Latin American Minerals Inc on the Tendal VMS zinc, lead and copper project in Argentina and has decided to scrap talks. Australian tin exploration company Consolidated Tin Mines Limited is to undertake a placement of 10 million shares to raise A$1million.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009