Brazilian mine production of tin rose 2.9% year-on-year to 7,037 tonnes in the seven months to July, according to provisional data from the local tin industry association SNIEE.

    The gain came despite continuing production problems at the Paranapanema group's Pitinga mine, where output fell by 5.6% to 3,814 tonnes in the period. However the delayed commissioning of the mine's third ore processing line should boost output in the rest of the year.

     Meanwhile production at Ersa more than doubled to 377 tonnes in January-July and there were also increases in production at co-operatives and other small-scale mines.

    SNIEE reported that refined metal production in January-July rose 3.4% to 6,281 tonnes, with most of the extra output going to the domestic market. Internal market sales by Brazilian smelters were up 5.7% in the period, while exports rose by only 1.0%.