Global Tin Production Landscape: The World's Premier Tin-Producing Regions in 2024

The tin market experienced a dramatic trajectory throughout 2024, with prices climbing to US$35,575 per metric ton in April before settling at a more moderate level near US$28,000 by year-end. This volatility reflects the complex interplay between rising global demand and significant supply disruptions emanating from the world’s top tin-producing regions. From Myanmar’s mining suspension to production challenges in South America, the dynamics of tin supply across different geographical areas continue to reshape the commodity’s market fundamentals.

Market Drivers: Why Tin Matters More Than Ever

Tin has evolved into a critical material for modern infrastructure and technology. Semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicle production, and renewable energy systems all depend heavily on tin’s unique properties. With approximately 50% of tin consumption dedicated to soldering applications essential for electronic devices—from smartphones to solar panels—demand continues its upward trajectory. Analysts at BMI Research have revised their 2024 tin price forecast upward to US$30,000 per metric ton, reflecting supply concerns from major producing countries. Looking further ahead, industry experts project prices could potentially reach US$45,000 by 2033 as global demand intensifies.

Regional Production Overview: Mapping the Tin-Producing World

The global supply of tin concentrates across a handful of key regions, each facing distinct operational challenges and market opportunities. Understanding the production capacity and constraints of these tin-producing areas is essential for investors tracking supply chain resilience.

1. China: The World’s Dominant Tin Supplier

Production Output: 68,000 metric tons
Reserve Base: 1.1 million metric tons

China maintains its position as the world’s largest tin-producing country, though output showed a gradual decline from 2022’s 71,000 MT to 68,000 MT in 2023. Despite this slight contraction, China controls more than one-third of global tin reserves, providing significant long-term supply security. However, escalating geopolitical tensions have introduced new uncertainties. In December 2024, China implemented new export restrictions on essential minerals including gallium and germanium—materials critical to semiconductor production. Industry analysts widely expect tin to be added to this export control list as the trade tensions between Washington and Beijing intensify over technological dominance in key sectors.

2. Myanmar: The Emerging Production Powerhouse

Production Output: 54,000 metric tons
Reserve Base: 700,000 metric tons

Myanmar’s tin production surged dramatically in 2023, rising from 47,000 MT in 2022 to claim the second-largest producing position globally. The nation’s Wa state region harbors the majority of Myanmar’s tin output, including the Man Maw mine—one of the world’s highest-capacity tin operations. However, a critical disruption emerged in April 2023 when Wa state authorities announced a mining suspension effective August 2023, citing the need to conserve mineral resources and conduct comprehensive industry audits. This action proved consequential: Man Maw’s failure to resume operations has remained a persistent drag on supply throughout 2024 and into 2025, with no clear restart timeline established. The halt on tin mining, processing, and raw ore transportation created a supply bottleneck that reverberated through global tin prices, particularly affecting import flows to China and Indonesia.

3. Indonesia: Navigating Production Challenges

Production Output: 52,000 metric tons
Reserve Base: Not publicly disclosed

Indonesia’s tin production landscape experienced significant turbulence in 2023, declining from 70,000 MT in 2022—a drop that surrendered its runner-up position to Myanmar. This production contraction marks the steepest year-over-year decline among major tin producers. Recognizing tin’s strategic importance, Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources formally designated tin as a critical mineral in 2023, acknowledging its supply scarcity, economic value, and vital role in high-technology applications. This classification signals the government’s intent to prioritize tin sector development going forward.

4. Peru: The Americas’ Primary Tin Hub

Production Output: 23,000 metric tons
Reserve Base: 130,000 metric tons

Peru emerged as the leading tin supplier to the United States in 2023, despite recording a production decline from 28,200 MT in 2022 to 23,000 MT in 2023. The country’s tin mining sector is anchored by Minsur’s San Rafael operation, recognized as one of the world’s largest integrated tin mines. Peru’s position as the Western Hemisphere’s dominant tin producer underscores its geopolitical significance within supply chains serving North American manufacturers.

5. Democratic Republic of Congo: High-Grade Production Centers

Production Output: 19,000 metric tons
Reserve Base: 120,000 metric tons

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s tin production registered a modest uptick to 19,000 MT in 2023 from 18,600 MT in 2022. Alphamin Resources operates the Bisie complex in eastern Congo, which houses the world’s two highest-grade tin mining operations: Mpama North and the newly completed Mpama South. Following a major expansion project, the Bisie complex is ramping up production capacity toward an annual target of 20,000 MT, positioning Congo as an increasingly important supplier to global markets.

6. Brazil: The Amazon’s Tin Legacy

Production Output: 18,000 metric tons
Reserve Base: 420,000 metric tons

Brazil’s tin production climbed slightly to 18,000 MT in 2023 from 17,000 MT in 2022, maintaining its position as a consistent supplier to global markets. The country’s tin sector underwent significant restructuring in 2024 when Minsur agreed to divest its Brazilian subsidiary Mineração Taboca—the nation’s largest integrated tin producer—to China Nonferrous Trade for US$340 million. This transaction carries strategic implications, as Taboca contributed over one-third of Brazil’s refined tin output and operates both the Pitinga mine and Pirapora smelter. Pitinga, nestled within the Amazon region, contains the world’s largest tin resource by metal content with proven reserves of 279,000 MT, providing production continuity extending beyond three decades.

7. Bolivia: Managing Supply Chain Disruptions

Production Output: 18,000 metric tons
Reserve Base: 400,000 metric tons

Bolivia matched Brazil’s production at 18,000 MT in 2023, yet the country has confronted persistent operational obstacles. In March 2023, Bolivia’s state-owned Vinto smelter declared force majeure due to coal supply deficits originating from Peru, creating weekly production losses of up to 200 MT. Compounding these challenges, Vinto encountered a months-long supply cut from domestic mines—Huanuni and Calquiri—due to outstanding debt obligations of US$90 million, precipitating labor disputes that disrupted the entire sector.

8. Australia: Emerging Growth Catalyst

Production Output: 9,100 metric tons
Reserve Base: 620,000 metric tons

Australia’s tin output remained relatively stable at 9,100 MT in 2023, up marginally from 9,000 MT in 2022. The nation’s tin sector is poised for expansion following strategic capital deployment by mining company Metals X, which invested AU$4.64 million in First Tin in 2024, acquiring a 23% equity stake. Metals X, co-owner of Tasmania’s Renison mine, aims to leverage its operational expertise to accelerate First Tin’s Taronga development project in New South Wales, with production targeted for 2027 following successful feasibility analysis.

9. Nigeria: Artisanal Mining Dynamics

Production Output: 8,100 metric tons
Reserve Base: Not publicly disclosed

Nigeria’s tin production expanded by 15.71% year-over-year, increasing from 7,000 MT in 2022 to 8,100 MT in 2023. Plateau State hosts Nigeria’s primary tin reserves and has witnessed intensified mining activity as global tin prices exceeded US$30,000 per metric ton in 2024—a dramatic appreciation from the early 2000s baseline of approximately US$5,000 per MT. However, Nigeria’s tin sector operates largely beyond regulatory frameworks, with artisanal and informal mining dominating production while contributing minimal tax revenue. The solid minerals sector overall contributed merely 0.17% to Nigeria’s GDP between 2018 and 2022, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, highlighting the disconnect between production volume and economic formalization.

10. Malaysia: Southeast Asia’s Historic Producer

Production Output: 6,100 metric tons
Reserve Base: Not publicly disclosed

Malaysia completes the roster of top ten tin-producing nations with 6,100 MT in 2023, up from 5,000 MT in 2022. Malaysia Smelting—the world’s second-largest tin refining company and a century-old institutional player—is positioned to capitalize on bullish market forecasts. The company posted above-consensus profit margins in the second and third quarters of 2024, demonstrating operational resilience amid volatile commodity pricing.

Future Outlook: Supply Pressures and Market Implications

The global tin market faces a critical inflection point as demand accelerates while supply constraints persist across multiple producing regions. Myanmar’s extended mining suspension, Indonesia’s production transition, and geopolitical trade restrictions targeting China all contribute to a fundamentally supply-constrained environment. For investors tracking these tin-producing countries and regions, the convergence of solid fundamentals—driven by semiconductor recovery, EV electrification, and renewable energy deployment—suggests structural price support. While price volatility will likely persist through 2025 and 2026, the underlying supply-demand architecture appears positioned to sustain elevated tin prices relative to the 2010-2020 baseline, with the industry consensus pointing toward the US$45,000 per metric ton target by 2033 as the long-term objective.