PUBLISHER: China Research and Intelligence | PRODUCT CODE: 1171662
PUBLISHER: China Research and Intelligence | PRODUCT CODE: 1171662
Tin has excellent characteristics such as low melting point, soft texture, non-toxic, corrosion resistance, good ductility, etc. It has extremely wide applications in the fields of electronics and electrical appliances, food processing, machinery manufacturing, automotive industry, aerospace and energy storage. According to CRI's analysis, with the global economic development, the demand for tin in the semiconductor, new energy automobile, 5G and other industries is rising.
As China's indigenous tin ore reserves are limited, China needs to import a large amount of tin ore every year. In 2021, China's tin ore imports reached 184,200 tons, up 16.44% year-on-year, and the import value was US$1.319 billion, up 137.86% year-on-year. From January to October 2022, China imported 195,800 tons of tin ore, up 23.10% year-on-year, and the import value was US$1.815 billion, an increase of 80.53% year-on-year.
CRI analysis, 2018-2022, China's average import price of tin ore shows an overall growth trend. In 2018-2020, China's average import price of tin ore was generally more stable, remaining in the price range of US$3.3-3.8 per kg. In 2021, China's average import price of tin ore rose sharply, with the average import price of one kilogram of tin ore at about US$7.16, up 104.28% year-on-year. From January to October 2022, the average price of China's tin ore imports was US$9.27 per kg, an increase of 46.65% year-on-year.
In 2021, China imported tin ore from 24 countries, with a relatively concentrated source of imports. CRI analysis shows that by import volume, Myanmar, Congo (DRC), Bolivia, Australia and Laos are the main sources of tin ore imports into China. Among them, Myanmar is China's largest source of tin ore imports. 2021, China imported 147,100 tons of tin ore from Myanmar, accounting for 79.88% of the total tin ore imports in that year, and the import value of US$757 million, accounting for 57.41% of the total import value.
China is the world's largest tin consumer and a major tin importer. With rising tin consumption in the Chinese market, CRI expects Chinese tin ore imports to continue to rise over the period 2023-2032.
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