Monthly tin exports drop in April

Indonesia's monthly tin exports dropped in April despite a further increase in the metal's price in the world market during the month, Kontan reported on Thursday.

According to data from the ministry of trade, the volume of the country's tin exports fell to 7,857.92 tons in April from 8,606.27 tons in March. In terms of value, the tin exports also dropped to US$155.34 million from $157.53 million in March.

Hartojo Agus Tjahjono, the Director for Industrial and Mineral Export Products at the Ministry of Trade, said that the volume of tin exports would remain the same in the coming months despite the continued increasing trend in the metal's price.

He, however, said that this year's total exports would be able to exceed last year's level of 86,304.52 tons (worth US$1.3 million) despite the drop during the first months of the year.

According to him, the tin exports would likely increase in the second semester as PT Koba Tin which has recently been allowed to resume its exports would be able to make a significant contribution to the country's tin exports during the period. (*)