Archive · 5 Sep 2025
Tin Market Awaits Myanmar Mine's Return, Prices Rise
Imagine tin is like a special ingredient for making electronics.
One of the biggest places where this ingredient comes from, the Man Maw mine, has been closed for a while.
Because of this, there's less tin available, and the price has gone up.
Even though other places are trying to make up for it, like the Democratic Republic of Congo, there's still not enough.
This has made it harder for companies in China that use tin, and they're not making as much stuff.
Investors are betting the mine won't open soon, hoping the price will go up even more.
The Man Maw tin mine in Myanmar has been closed for two years.
Tin prices on the London Metal Exchange have risen.
Imports of tin concentrates from Myanmar to China have decreased significantly.
Chinese smelters are operating below capacity due to raw material shortages.
Investors are betting on further price increases due to supply uncertainties.
- Who
- Tin market and investors
- What
- Tin prices are rising due to the continued absence of the Man Maw mine in Myanmar.
- When
- Over the last six months
- Where
- Global tin market, with focus on Myanmar and China
- Why
- The absence of the Man Maw mine is impacting supply, leading to price increases as investors speculate on future production.
- Man Maw Mine Closure
- Closed for resource audit two years ago
- Tin Price Increase
- LME three-month tin price rose from below $30,000 to over $35,000
- Myanmar Concentrate Exports
- Dropped 77% year-on-year
- China's Imports
- Total concentrate imports down 32% year-on-year
- Chinese Smelter Capacity
- Below 70% last month
- Global Exchange Inventory
- Stable above 11,000 tons for last three months
- Indonesia Exports
- Up 64% through July compared to the same period of 2024