The changing face of Latin America’s tin industry and its effect on the world tin market

Abstract

In September, 1985, a Malaysian delegation visited Brazil in yet another attempt to persuade the young, but prolific, tin producing country to step into line and join the International Tin Council. Later that month, Mr. Paul Leong, the Malaysian Primary Industry Minister, warned that “if as expected, Brazil fails to act on the Association of Tin Producing Countries call for tin output to be scaled down, it could contribute to the collapse of the international market”. However, Brazil declined the offer of ITC membership, saying it was still too young, with too many investments not yet paid for, and that it was not yet in a position either to respect ITC quotas or to help finance the Buffer Stock. Less than a month later, the international tin market did, indeed, collapse.