Japan Tin Shipment Maintains Slow in April

Japanese domestic tin shipment was 56,747 tonnes in April, down by 37.6% from a year earlier and by 23.6% from a month earlier, according to the statistics by Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry. The domestic inventory increased by 13.4% to 58,821 tonnes in April compared with the previous month. Domestic shipment of tin-free steel was 47,012 tonnes in April, decreasing by 33.1% year-to-year and by 27.6% month-to-month. The domestic inventory increased by 4.2% to 44,059 tonnes in April from the previous month.

Tin makers and distributors expect the shipment could recover gradually. A maker source said the shipment for June-September could recover to average 75% level compared with the corresponding period of 2008. A distributor source said the demand hit the bottom during January-March. He said the current shipment is around 70% level compared with a year earlier, which is expected to recover gradually. Inventory adjustment has progressed and the demand seems to be increasing for industrial containers.

Meanwhile, some concerns analyze the inventory is still surplus against the low shipment. Tin demand maintains slow for general food cans. It is unforeseeable when and how much the demand recovers.