Tin

Tin is a silvery-white metal known for its malleability, corrosion resistance, and use in soldering. It is extracted from cassiterite ore and is primarily produced in China, Indonesia, and Peru. Tin is mainly used in solder, tin plating, and the production of alloys such as bronze.

Sub-Category	Abbreviation	Core Content Range	Size Range
Tin Granules	Sn Granules	Sn 99-100%	1-40 mm
Tin Ingot	Sn Ingot	Various	n/a

Please note that the above listed sub-categories including its core content and size ranges are just a snapshot of Metalshub’s currently traded raw materials. We are adding new sub-categories on a monthly basis and would be happy to assess your specific requirements to this category.

Metalshub provides producers and consumers of tin with a software solution to improve the way they buy or sell it. Our software connects over 2,000 companies in a joint trading network. This allows sellers to discover new buyers of tin and buyers to discover new suppliers of tin.

For buyers, Metalshub’s Procurement Solution allows foundries, and other consumers to digitalise their procurement process in order to increase sourcing efficiency, ensure compliant buying, and take data-driven decisions. For sellers, Metalshub’s Sales Solution allows miners, traders, and other sellers to digitalise their sales process, manage inventory, and optimise their sales book.

Prices for tin are available from several key platforms:

1. London Metal Exchange (LME): The LME offers futures contracts for tin, which are widely used as a benchmark for global tin pricing. These contracts help manage price volatility in the metal market​ (LME).
2. Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE): The SHFE also offers tin futures contracts, which are widely traded in China and serve as a benchmark for the tin market in Asia.(SHFE)
3. Fastmarkets: Fastmarkets provides journalistic price assessments and forecasts for tin, covering global markets. (Fastmarkets).

Beyond these three examples, other providers may also provide prices.

The leading producers of tin are:

• China – ~35% of global tin production
• Indonesia – ~20% of global tin production
• Peru – ~<15% of global tin production
• Bolivia – ~<10% of global tin production
• Brazil – ~5% of global tin production

Some of the key producers of tin include:

• Yunnan Tin Company (China) – ~15% of global tin production
• PT Timah (Indonesia) – ~<15% of global tin production
• Minsur (Peru) – ~10% of global tin production
• Malaysia Smelting Corporation (Malaysia) – ~<10% of global tin production
• Metallo-Chimique (Belgium) – ~5% of global tin production

Tin is extracted from cassiterite ore, which is found in both alluvial and hard rock deposits. The ore is crushed, concentrated, and smelted to produce tin metal. It is then refined through processes such as electrolysis to achieve the desired purity. Tin is commonly traded in the form of ingots, granules, or bars for industrial and electronic applications.

Tin is primarily used in soldering (~50%), where it is a key component in electronics manufacturing. It is also used in tin plating (~20%) to provide corrosion resistance to steel and other metals. Additionally, tin is an essential ingredient in alloys (~15%), including bronze and pewter. Tin granules, ingots, and solder wire are the common forms traded in these industries.