General Characteristics
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- 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
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- 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
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- The London Metal
exchange is the major referral market for futures trading in
tin.
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Indian Scenario
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- 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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