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General
Characteristics
- Cassiterite (SnO2) is the most important
mineral ore of tin.
- Tin is an important commodity in international
trade and is used in hundreds of industrial processes throughout
the world.
- Utilization is in many industries such
as food packaging, culinary equipment, electronics, tin
chemicals, plumbing solders, engineering alloys, pewter
and bronze in music and the arts, dental amalgams, anti
corrosion and engineering coatings, wine capsules and fire
retardants. Tin readily forms alloy with other metals and
imparts hardness and strength. Tin is an important component
of solders, since it wets the base metal by alloying with
it.
- The industrial application of tin is
in the following sectors: Solders - 32 %, Tin Plate - 27
%, Others - 17 %, Alloys - 14 %, P C Stabilizers - 6%, Tinning
- 4%.
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Global Scenario
- The world tin production fluctuates
between 2.4 to 3.1 lakh tons. The production in 2001, is
estimated at 2.49 lakh tons.
- China (80000 - 1,00,000 tons), Indonesia
(54000-90000 tons), Peru (50000 - 70000 tons), Bolivia (12000
- 15000 tons) and Brazil (12000 to 14000 tons) are the major
producers of tin in the world. These five producers account
for around 91% of the world's total production. The other
important producers are Australia, Vietnam and Malaysia
are the other major producers.
- United States is believed to be the
world's largest producer of secondary tin.
- World tin consumption is estimated to
have exceeded supply by 15000 tons in 2003.
- Japan is estimated to be the largest
consumer of tin in the world. The other major consumers
are China and USA.
- Globally, the demand is estimated to
be above the supply.
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Major Tin Markets
- The London Metal exchange is the major
referral market for futures trading in tin.
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Indian Scenario
- India's tin production is a meager 10
tons.
- India meets most of her tin requirements
through imports. It is estimated that India imports around
4000 tons of tin and its alloys (including scrap).
- Tinplate packaging is picking up in
the country. The market size of tin plate packaging is estimated
to be around 3,00,000 tons. In India, tin plate is mainly
used for packaging in three categories: edible oil &
cashew, processed food and non-food.
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