Alphamin to supply DRC tin to new US smelter
2026-11-10 10:50:54 [Print]
Alphamin Resources has agreed to supply a new U.S. smelter with tin concentrate from the Democratic Republic of Congo, diversifying its sales as Washington backs domestic minerals processing.
The initial two-year deal covers up to 3,600 tonnes of contained tin annually from Bisie, about 180 km northwest of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. The material is destined for U.S. refiner Nathan Trotter & Co.'s $65-million (C$92 million) smelter in Virginia, which targets first production next year, Mauritius-based Alphamin said Monday.
The allocation would account for up to 18% of Bisie's targeted annual output, linking an established African mine to new U.S. processing capacity. For American manufacturers, the arrangement offers a potential source of tin for solder used in electronics and defence equipment.
Nathan Trotter is building its Tin Ridge facility in Henry County, Virginia. The project, announced in September 2025, is designed to process both tin concentrate and scrap and create an estimated 118 jobs at full capacity.
Alphamin CEO Eoin O'Driscoll told commodities pricing agency Fastmarkets last month that about 70% of the company's concentrate went to Yunnan in China, where competitive processing charges helped attract its business. Most of Alphamin's concentrate would continue to go to China, he said.
Bisie produced 5,030 tonnes of tin in the quarter ended Sept. 30, broadly unchanged from the preceding three months and consistent with Alphamin's annual guidance of 20,000 tonnes, the company reported Oct. 6. Alphamin indirectly owns 84.14% of the operating subsidiary; the production figures are reported on a full-mine basis.
The initial two-year deal covers up to 3,600 tonnes of contained tin annually from Bisie, about 180 km northwest of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. The material is destined for U.S. refiner Nathan Trotter & Co.'s $65-million (C$92 million) smelter in Virginia, which targets first production next year, Mauritius-based Alphamin said Monday.
The allocation would account for up to 18% of Bisie's targeted annual output, linking an established African mine to new U.S. processing capacity. For American manufacturers, the arrangement offers a potential source of tin for solder used in electronics and defence equipment.
Nathan Trotter is building its Tin Ridge facility in Henry County, Virginia. The project, announced in September 2025, is designed to process both tin concentrate and scrap and create an estimated 118 jobs at full capacity.
Alphamin CEO Eoin O'Driscoll told commodities pricing agency Fastmarkets last month that about 70% of the company's concentrate went to Yunnan in China, where competitive processing charges helped attract its business. Most of Alphamin's concentrate would continue to go to China, he said.
Bisie produced 5,030 tonnes of tin in the quarter ended Sept. 30, broadly unchanged from the preceding three months and consistent with Alphamin's annual guidance of 20,000 tonnes, the company reported Oct. 6. Alphamin indirectly owns 84.14% of the operating subsidiary; the production figures are reported on a full-mine basis.
Tin Solder Bar 40%min EXW China
Unit:RMB/kg
China tin concentrate producers' operating rate statistics by province by month
Unit: %
