"Tin is used for soldering and is found in most electronic devices, as well as electric cars and solar panels. The metal is important for connecting semiconductor chips to circuit boards and its value has surged amid the boom in investment in datacentres that will power the AI industry. The metal's price has risen sharply over the last decade, from $16,000 a tonne in 2016 to more than $50,000 at the start of this year."
"However, about two-thirds of the tin mined today comes from China, Myanmar and Indonesia, where there are long-running concerns about fragile supply chains and the use of child labour. Don Turvey, the chief executive of Cornish Metals, said the US interest was a testament to the quality and strategic importance of South Crofty and its potential to become the first new tin producer in the western world. Shares in Cornish Metals jumped nearly 7% on Thursday."
The US has expressed interest in investing up to $225m via its export credit agency to reopen the South Crofty tin mine in Cornwall, potentially creating about 300 jobs. Cornish Metals received a funding interest letter and said any investment would require supplying tin to the US as a critical mineral. Tin is essential for soldering, connecting semiconductor chips to circuit boards, electric vehicles, solar panels and datacentres powering AI; prices rose from $16,000 per tonne in 2016 to over $50,000 recently. Around two-thirds of global tin comes from China, Myanmar and Indonesia, raising supply-chain and child-labour concerns. The UK invested £28.6m in 2025 to support reopening efforts.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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