Tin prices have surged to multi-year highs, with LME three-month tin reaching approximately $55,418 per tonne on May 29, 2026. The metal has been the best-performing base metal through 2025 and into 2026, driven by prolonged and severe supply disruptions in key producing regions.
The International Tin Association reports that the global refined tin market remains in a narrow deficit after a nominal all-time high for the LME 3-month contract at $53,462 per tonne in January 2026. Supply tightness continues to be the dominant narrative, with Myanmar's Wa State yet to resume normal operations.
Indonesia's export regime adds further supply uncertainty. Export permit delays and changing regulatory requirements have constrained refined tin shipments from the world's second-largest producer. The combination of disruptions in both major producing regions has created a supply situation that analysts describe as unprecedented in recent tin market history.
Tin demand remains closely tied to electronics manufacturing and soldering applications, which account for approximately 50 percent of global consumption. The broader electrification and digitalization trends supporting other base metals also benefit tin, particularly through increasing electronic content in EVs and renewable energy systems.