Indonesia tin smelters face export delays ahead of new rules

Jakarta

TIN shipments from smelters in Indonesia, the world's top exporter of the metal, are expected to tighten in coming weeks due to a change in export rules that is likely to underpin prices.

Indonesian tin smelters have ramped up shipments this month, but exports are set to tail off sharply as local smelters have faced delays in receiving export approvals ahead of new rules that come into effect from Aug 1.

"Many of the smelters don't have the new licence yet. There have been delays in the new regulation from the government," Jabin Sufianto, president of the Indonesian Association of Tin Exporters (AETI) told Reuters. "If you can't export the tin ingot, your cash flow will be affected. So I believe the production will be lower, and as an impact, the price will increase. But I don't think…