Tin
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[edit] Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. This silvery, malleable poor metal that is not easily oxidized in air and resists corrosion is found in many alloys and is used to coat other metals to prevent corrosion.
[edit] General uses
Tin is used to coat other metals to prevent corrosion (tin cans are made from tin coated steel).Tin is also alloying agent. Important tin alloys incldue soft solder, type metal, fusible metal, pewter, bronze, bell metal, babbitt metal, white metal, die casting alloy, and phosphor bronze.Some magnets are made of crystalline tin-niobium wire, which is incredibly conductive at low temperatures.These magnets weigh just a few pounds, yet produce magnetic fields comparable to those of 100 ton electromagnets.[1]
It is also used in the production of bronze, pewter and die-casting alloys and, in modern engineering, to make tungsten more machineable. However, the largest uses for tin are for the production of solders and for tin plating (providing an attractive coating to iron and steel products).
The major uses were as follows: cans and containers, 27%; electrical, 23%; construction, 10%; transportation, 10%; and other, 30%. [2]
[edit] Pricing structure
An unexpected surge in the supply of tin metal worldwide be it from large tin companies or small-scale miners, if not managed properly, could seriously dampen the tin price outlook.Catalysts for higher demand included the switch to lead-free solders (tin content over 90%) for electrical and electronic products, organic growth in tinplate demand arising from higher consumption of canned food worldwide and increasing use of tin in chemical applications due to its environmental-friendly attributes and resistance to corrosion. According to World Commodity Forecasts, tin consumption is expected to increase to 386,000 tonnes next year and 398,000 tonnes in 2008. .[3]
[edit] Current consumption trends
The chart below suggests that the market will easily absorb increased cobalt production. The indicated supply deficits in 2007 and 2008 are a result of increasing demand and expected lag in production from projects proposed by other companies.[4]
[edit] Price forecasts
In the latest survey of LME metals price forecasts published by Reuters yesterday the average of 29 analysts’ forecasts of the tin price in 2008 was US$15,387/tonne, 6% higher than last year’s actual average of $14,542/tonne, but lower than recent levels. Forecasts ranged from a low of $11,023/tonne to the highest one of $18,000. Tin price forecasts for 2009 ranged from a very low $6,614/tonne to a high of $16,535/tonne, averaging $12,906/tonne. [5]
[edit] Major producers
Tin producers responded to the higher tin prices and strong demand of the past several years with tin mine and tin smelter openings and expansions. Several closed or partially disabled tin mines were reopened. A large tin smelter started production in Singapore. China continued to be the leading tin producer, from both mines and smelters. [6]
[edit] External References
- ↑ http://web1.caryacademy.org/chemistry/rushin/StudentProjects/ElementWebSites/tin/usesproperties.htm
- ↑ http://www.lme.co.uk/tin_industryusage.asp
- ↑ http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/11/13/business/15904009&sec=business
- ↑ http://www.resourceinvestor.com/pebble.asp?relid=29058
- ↑ http://www.itri.co.uk/pooled/articles/BF_NEWSART/view.asp?Q=BF_NEWSART_298348
- ↑ http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/tin/tin__mcs07.pdf
