Tin
Used primarily as a protective coating for steel cans (tinplate), as solder in electronics, and in specialty alloys. Supply is highly concentrated.
Where Tin sits among tracked minerals
Share of global output from the #1 producing country, across all 20 minerals PlainCountries tracks
30.7% 16th of 20 higher than 4 of 20 tracked minerals
Top-producer share of global output, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more tracked minerals. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024 · 2023 data year
Global Production Overview
Nearby Base Metals by leader share
Next read: Zinc · All minerals
Where Tin sits on supply concentration
Tin is mid-pack on supply concentration here, per the figures above. Tin is a base-metal row: large-volume industrial use means a shift at a major mine can move prices even when the metal is not geologically scarce. Used primarily as a protective coating for steel cans (tinplate), as solder in electronics, and in specialty alloys. Supply is highly concentrated. 2023 global mine production ≈ 290,000.
The import-reliance figure above is mid-pack among minerals with a published reliance number. Track both the leading producer and the next two shares, not only the #1 row. Top-five share is 85% (China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Peru, Brazil). Mid-concentration minerals are where #2/#3 shares still matter for scenario work.
Closest same-category neighbour by leader share: Zinc. Figures are USGS estimates for 2023 from the 2024 Mineral Commodity Summaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country produces the most Tin?
China is the world's leading producer of Tin, accounting for approximately 31% of global mine production in 2023.
How is Tin used?
Used primarily as a protective coating for steel cans (tinplate), as solder in electronics, and in specialty alloys. Supply is highly concentrated.
What is global Tin production?
Global mine production of Tin was approximately 290,000 in 2023, measured in metric tons.
How reliant is the US on imported Tin?
The United States imports approximately 73% of its apparent Tin consumption, making it a strategically significant commodity for US supply chain security.
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024 (U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center). Source: USGS National Minerals Information Center, data year 2023. Values are USGS estimates and may include revisions. US import reliance data from USGS.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.