ITRI today released new data on global tin use by market sector in 2007, together with information on use trends from 2004-2008. Information from this unique industry study, carried out as part of ITRI’s Sustainability Project, is based not only on published statistics and expert estimates, but also a direct large-scale survey of individual downstream tin users carried out over the past few months.



This year’s industry survey has benefited from a big increase in the number of participating companies and has achieved significantly increased direct coverage of over 42% of estimated global tin usage in 2007. The following main findings of this, our fourth annual study are:

• World refined tin usage reached an all-time record level of 363,100 tonnes in 2007;
• World use of tin in all forms in 2007 is estimated at over 450,000 tonnes, of which 20% is directly accounted for by secondary materials. In addition about 10% of the refined tin used is produced from recycling;
• Producers of solders, bronzes and other alloys in particular used considerable volumes of secondary alloy, scrap and drosses as a source of tin;
• The share of the solder business in total tin consumption edged up further in 2007 to 53%. Electronic solders alone accounted for over 44% of all refined metal usage;
• “Apparent consumption” data (derived mainly from production and trade figures) had already indicated a downturn in tin demand last year, but our survey data indicates that this was initially due to de-stocking of the supply pipeline, rather than reduced usage;
• De-stocking has accelerated, but there has also been a real fall in usage in the final quarter of 2008, particularly in solders and tin chemicals. World usage in 2008 is provisionally estimated at 350,000 tonnes, down 3.6% on last year.

ITRI’s Manager of Environmental Affairs, Kay Nimmo, commented: “By contributing their data on tin use and recycling, 127 companies worldwide who used 153,000 tonnes of refined tin have shown their commitment to working towards a responsible and sustainable industry. We are particularly pleased to be able to suggest a provisional figure of 27% for the recycling rate of tin – something that has not been possible in the past due to lack of information”.

 

For editorial information contact:

Peter Kettle, ITRI Ltd
Manager – Statistics and Market Studies
Telephone +44 (0) 1727 871 347
Email: peter.kettle@itri.co.uk

Kay Nimmo, ITRI Ltd
Manager - Environmental Affairs
Telephone: + 44 (0) 1727 871 312
Email: kay.nimmo@itri.co.uk