Tin - Production, Reserves & Supply Concentration
A metal used in solders, coatings and industrial chemicals.Production and reserves are measured by tin content. Smelting and refining turn mine feedstocks into metal for solder, coatings and other uses.
Tin Global Production & Country Share
Measure: Mine production (metric tons)
Tin Production by Country (2020-2025)
Mine production · Unit: metric tons
| Rank | Country | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e | Share | 5Y Chg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | China | 84,000 | 90,000 | 71,000 | 68,000 | 71,000 | 71,000 | 24.5% | -15.5% |
| #2 | Indonesia | 53,000 | 70,000 | 70,000 | 52,000 | 55,000 | 61,000 | 21.0% | +15.1% |
| #3 | Peru | 20,600 | 26,995 | 28,200 | 23,000 | 32,300 | 33,000 | 11.4% | +60.2% |
| #4 | Brazil | 16,900 | 15,517 | 17,000 | 18,000 | 27,600 | 28,000 | 9.7% | +65.7% |
| #5 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 17,300 | 16,700 | 18,600 | 19,000 | 26,000 | 27,000 | 9.3% | +56.1% |
| #6 | Bolivia | 14,700 | 19,628 | 17,600 | 18,000 | 21,200 | 15,000 | 5.2% | +2.0% |
| #7 | Australia | 8,120 | 8,772 | 9,000 | 9,100 | 11,300 | 12,000 | 4.1% | +47.8% |
| #7 | Myanmar | 29,000 | 36,900 | 47,000 | 54,000 | 20,000 | 12,000 | 4.1% | -58.6% |
| #9 | Vietnam | 5,400 | 5,400 | 5,900 | 5,300 | 11,000 | 11,000 | 3.8% | +103.7% |
| #10 | Malaysia | 2,960 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 6,100 | 5,460 | 5,000 | 1.7% | +68.9% |
| #11 | Rwanda | 1,800 | 2,000 | 3,300 | 3,800 | 4,100 | 4,600 | 1.6% | +155.6% |
| #12 | Russia | 2,500 | 3,000 | 3,700 | 2,700 | 3,260 | 4,500 | 1.6% | +80.0% |
| #13 | Nigeria | 5,000 | 1,600 | 7,000 | 8,100 | 3,100 | 3,500 | 1.2% | -30.0% |
| #14 | Laos | 1,400 | 1,980 | 2,510 | 2,300 | 1,860 | 1,800 | 0.6% | +28.6% |
| - | World Total | 264,000 | 305,000 | 307,000 | 290,000 | 294,000 | 290,000 | 100.0% | +9.8% |
Tin Proven Reserves by Country (2025)
Basis: Reserves · Unit: metric tons · Global Implied Reserve Life: 20.7 years
| Rank | Country | Reserves (metric tons) | World Share | USGS Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Indonesia | 1,400,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #2 | China | 1,200,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #3 | Brazil | 700,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #3 | Myanmar | 700,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #5 | Australia | 570,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. - For Australia, Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant or equivalent reserves were 220,000 tons. |
| #6 | Russia | 460,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #7 | Bolivia | 400,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #8 | Peru | 150,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #9 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 91,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #10 | Vietnam | 23,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| - | World Total Reserves | 6,000,000 | 100.0% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
U.S. Supply, Consumption & Net Import Reliance (2021-2025)
| Salient Measure | Unit | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tin: Production, secondary: Old scrap | metric tons | 9,430 | 9,420 | 9,430 | 8,550 | 9,000 |
| Tin: Production, secondary: New scrap | metric tons | 7,600 | 7,900 | 7,900 | 8,000 | 8,000 |
| Tin: Imports for consumption: Refined | metric tons | 38,100 | 33,200 | 28,200 | 25,400 | 32,000 |
| Tin: Imports for consumption: Tin alloys, gross weight | metric tons | 1,110 | 735 | 901 | 731 | 1,200 |
| Tin: Imports for consumption: Tin waste and scrap, gross weight | metric tons | 18,600 | 11,600 | 10,700 | 8,210 | 8,100 |
| Tin: Exports: Refined | metric tons | 1,290 | 1,310 | 918 | 596 | 850 |
| Tin: Exports: Tin alloys, gross weight | metric tons | 630 | 531 | 652 | 1,330 | 800 |
| Tin: Exports: Tin waste and scrap, gross weight | metric tons | 2,800 | 30,300 | 38,000 | 13,400 | 4,500 |
| Tin: Consumption, apparent, refined | metric tons | 48,000 | 41,200 | 35,000 | 34,600 | 43,000 |
| Tin: U.S. Net Import Reliance | % of consumption | 80% | 77% | 73% | 75% | 77% |
Frequently Asked Questions - Tin
Which country leads tin production (mine production)?
China leads the 2025 USGS country table for mine production, with 71,000 metric tons (estimated) (24.5% of the reported world total). World output was 290,000 metric tons in 2025.
Which country holds the largest reported tin reserves?
Indonesia ranks first in the USGS reserve table, with 1,400,000 metric tons (Reserves) against a reported world total of >6,000,000 metric tons.
What is US net import reliance and import sourcing for tin?
In 2025, US net import reliance was reported at 77% (Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption, refined tin). Across 2021-24, leading US import sources (Refined tin) were Peru (31%), Bolivia (27%), Indonesia (15%).
How is tin classified on the US Critical Minerals List and what are its primary uses?
Status: Listed on 2025 US List (2022 & 2025 lists). Primary applications cited in USGS summaries include: Electronic circuit solders, tinplate food packaging, bronze and bearing alloys, and PVC heat stabilizers. Tin is mined predominantly from cassiterite (SnO₂) hard-rock and alluvial deposits and smelted into refined tin metal. USGS country tables report mine production and reserves on a contained-tin basis.