Indonesia Ranks Among the World's Largest Tin Producers in 2023

A United States Geological Survey (USGS) report shows that Indonesia was among the world's largest tin producers in 2023.

Indonesia ranked third, with an estimated production volume of 52,000 metric tons. This figure is down from the 2022 estimate of 70,000 metric tons.

The International Tin Association (ITA) even cites Indonesia as a significant tin producer through PT Timah Tbk. This state-owned enterprise is one of the largest in the world and is a member of the ITA.

However, the ITA acknowledges that tin production practices in Indonesia have often had a negative environmental impact in recent years.

"First highlighted in the supply chain through a Friends of the Earth campaign in 2012," the ITA wrote on its website, as quoted on Thursday (4/4/2024).

The ITA notes that Bangka Belitung is a province with a 300-year history of tin mining. Like other mining areas, the ITA says, the situation in the province is complex to understand.

"However, working with the state-owned enterprise PT Timah will allow us to jointly promote better governance in this sector," the ITA stated.

Meanwhile, China ranked first with an estimated production volume of 68,000 metric tons in 2023. This is down from the 2022 estimate of 71,000 metric tons.

The USGS even states that China has tin reserves of up to 1.1 million metric tons.

Second place was Burma, with an estimated production volume of 54,000 metric tons in 2023. This estimate is higher than the previous year's 47,000 metric tons.

Following Indonesia are Peru, Congo, Bolivia, Brazil, Australia, Nigeria, and Malaysia, as shown in the accompanying graph.

(See also: China Most Frequently Imports Tin from Indonesia as of November 2023)