Description
Tin metal is supplied for soldering alloy production and industrial applications.
Common Uses
- Soldering: Over 50% of the world’s tin is used in solders for electronic circuits and plumbing.
- Tinplate: Most “tin cans” are actually steel coated with a microscopic layer of tin to prevent food from reacting with the steel.
- Alloys:
- Bronze: Copper and tin.
- Pewter: Historically tin and lead, now mostly tin with antimony and copper.
- Glass Production: In the Pilkington process, molten glass is floated on a bath of molten tin to create perfectly flat window panes.
Global Production & Market
Tin is primarily extracted from the mineral cassiterite. The largest global producers are China, Indonesia, and Myanmar. As of February 2026, the market has seen some volatility, with prices recently dipping due to shifts in global tech sentiment.
