Stellar attends International Tin Research Institute (ITRI) seminar in London
Stellar Resources recently attended the International Tin Research Institute (ITRI) seminar in London, where Stellar CEO, Peter Blight, joined industry participants and tin-focused investors to hear ITRI’s latest view on the tin market outlook.
The overall outlook is positive for tin with potential growth in the use of tin as a doping agent for some structural steel and further penetration of tin solder into the lead market.
Tin is being added to improve the corrosion characteristics of steel plate used in the construction of bridges, which reduces the high costs associated with having to regularly re-paint bridges. For example, the painting of the Golden Gate Bridge is an ongoing task and a primary maintenance job as the steel needs protection from the high salt content in the air which can cause it to corrode and rust.
The increase in penetration of tin solder into the lead market has been via previously exempted areas such as medical and military uses due to tin having to establish a reliability record before it could be used in these applications. Also, China’s domestic solder market has started to lose their exemptions resulting in increased demand for tin solder.
So, as the year comes to a close, the outlook for tin is positive. In addition, a slowdown in production in Indonesia, which represents one third of the world’s tin supply, provides the opportunity for new projects to enter the industry.
The next few years appear to be the right cycle for tin with prices likely to go up. However, a caution remains to ensure that prices don’t spike and curb demand.
Click here to listen to Peter Blight’s interview with BRR following the ITRI seminar. For more information about ITRI, visit www.itri.co.uk.