2018 consumption exceeded expectations

摘要

Based on final year-end trade data, tin consumption for 2018 as a whole was stronger than previously estimated, with usage increasing by some 2.2. However, the weak global economy resulted in an extremely poor fourth quarter for tin consumption after a much more positive first half. As ever, the global tin market remains strongly polarised between China and the rest of the world, with the Chinese market heavily impacted by the on-going trade tensions with the US.