US grade-A tin solder demand weak as LME prices and stocks continue to fall
2014-10-03 17:36:37 [Print]
NEW YORK (Asian Metal) 3 Oct 14 - US sources reported no changes in tin ingot 99.85%min premiums this week, ranging from USD500-550/mt d.d.p. Premiums have been flat since last week. Spot prices on the LME settled at USD20,200/mt as of Wednesday, down USD250/mt since reported earlier in the week. LME stocks were down 215mt to 3,830mt. Sources noted a continued lack of demand from the solder market. Demand for the material in chemical and alloy applications remain flat.
A US downstream user of over 50tpm was quoted 20mt of tin ingot 99.85%min at a premium of USD515/mt d.d.p. earlier this week, but has yet to make a purchase. The source admitted to receiving very little interest for his solder products over the past month. He remains hopeful that demand will improve, and believes that the metal’s fundamentals remain promising.
“The tin ingot 99.85%min market has been baffling this year. LME stocks continue to decline, yet prices keep falling. This is due in large part to a lack of demand for solders in electronics. The global tin market was projected to be in deficit this year, but at this rate much of that deficit may not be realized,” he explained.
Another US downstream user of over 100tpm tin ingot 99.85%min did not make any purchases in the last few weeks, but continues to monitor the market. The source confirmed the current premiums of USD500-550/mt d.d.p. He has not needed to make any spot purchases this month due to steady, if unspectacular demand for his products.
“We have not needed to purchase any additional tin ingot 99.85%min in the past few weeks. Demand for our alloy products has not required that we purchase additional raw materials. Business held flat through most of September, which amounts to a victory given the way that certain industries are struggling,” he said.
A US downstream user of over 50tpm was quoted 20mt of tin ingot 99.85%min at a premium of USD515/mt d.d.p. earlier this week, but has yet to make a purchase. The source admitted to receiving very little interest for his solder products over the past month. He remains hopeful that demand will improve, and believes that the metal’s fundamentals remain promising.
“The tin ingot 99.85%min market has been baffling this year. LME stocks continue to decline, yet prices keep falling. This is due in large part to a lack of demand for solders in electronics. The global tin market was projected to be in deficit this year, but at this rate much of that deficit may not be realized,” he explained.
Another US downstream user of over 100tpm tin ingot 99.85%min did not make any purchases in the last few weeks, but continues to monitor the market. The source confirmed the current premiums of USD500-550/mt d.d.p. He has not needed to make any spot purchases this month due to steady, if unspectacular demand for his products.
“We have not needed to purchase any additional tin ingot 99.85%min in the past few weeks. Demand for our alloy products has not required that we purchase additional raw materials. Business held flat through most of September, which amounts to a victory given the way that certain industries are struggling,” he said.
Tin Ingot 99.95%min EXW China
Unit:RMB/mt
China tin concentrate producers' sales to production ratio statistics by province by month
Unit: %
