Pewter: the metal of tech has never been so expensive

Audio 01:39

Pewter shows the strongest increase observed in the family of industrial metals.

© Getty Images / Thomas Barwick

By: Marie-Pierre Olphand Follow

2 min

Tin, a rare metal used for soldering, and therefore essential, has seen its price climb in recent months: + 80% since the start of the year.

What to depress the industrialists.

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The bills of semiconductor manufacturers have never been higher.

Since the start of the year, tin, which is the essential metal for soldering, has grown by 80%, and can be bought at over $ 36,000 per tonne.

Pewter shows the strongest increase observed in the family of industrial metals.

At this price, " 

 ", explains investor Vincent Donnen, boss of the Rare Metals Company (CDMR), a company of rare metals. investment that also has physical stocks.

Connected objects and solar panels are fueling demand

What made prices jump was the post-Covid-19 boom in the manufacturing of electronic components.

Today, prices are fueled by the global concern over the availability of tin and refined tin.

Especially in China, a country hit by energy restrictions.

Tin refineries were previously geographically not directly affected, but could be tomorrow.

Hence the rising prices.

" 

 ", explains Maïté Le Gleuher of the geo-resources department of BRGM, Research Office. geological and mining.

Prices are also driven by prospects: the development of 5G, the manufacture of solar panels and the craze for connected objects will increase the demand for tin.

And while miniaturization makes it possible in certain sectors to reduce the quantities required, it also reduces the ability to recycle metals.

No impact for the consumer

The very low stocks of tin on the London Metal Exchange illustrate the current pressure on prices, even if it is not the European market which, in theory, is called upon to feed the Chinese industrial machine, but rather the stock exchange. Shanghai metals.

In the medium term, demand should subside, following the slowdown in industrial activity imposed by energy restrictions in China.

The consumer should not see the color of these historical prices in view of the quantity used, the cost of tin is indeed marginal in a product such as a telephone or a computer.

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