Tin exports rise in January

Tin exports from Indonesia almost tripled in January from December, ending two months of decline, a trade ministry official said.

January shipments were 9,914.4 metric tons valued at US$156.06 million, Hartojo Agus Tjahjono, export director for mining products, told reporters in Jakarta Friday. The country shipped 3,330 tons of refined tin in December, Tjahjono said last month.

Exports of refined tin are only allowed by companies with licenses and that have paid royalties, under rules introduced in February last year. Tin export licenses were held by 16 companies as of Jan. 31.

State-owned tin miner PT Timah exported 4,419 tons of tin worth $65.57 million last month, Tjahjono said Friday, without giving details of shipments made last month by 10 other companies. (*)