Joe, 

 

The increase in the price of tin may be somewhat related to the introduction of lead-free solders, but there are many other reasons as well,including the growth of Chinese infrastucture, the weak US dollar, a return to previous price points, speculation, under capacity of mines, etc.

 

Don't forget, the price of lead has also sky rocketed over the last 2 years, not to mention copper, steel, indium, ...

 

David Suraski

AIM



	-----Original Message----- 

	From: Joe Fjelstad [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 

	Sent: Fri 4/9/2004 1:49 PM 

	To: [log in to unmask] 

	Cc: 

	Subject: Re: [LF] world lead comsumption

	

	



	> http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/lead/pbmis0104.pdf

	

	

	

	

	From the data in the link above provided by Chuck it looks like ~0.41% of all

	lead used in the US was used in all solders for the year 2002 and ~0.15% for

	all solders in 2003.

	

	

	

	It may be that these numbers reflect the effect of the introduction of

	lead-free solders in the US on that time.

	

	

	

	Meanwhile....

	

	

	

	The Platt’s Metals Week average composite price for tin in

	

	December 2003 was $4.05 per pound, 11% higher than that in

	

	November, and 34% higher than that in December 2002.

	

	

	

	Hmmmm..... must just be a coincidence...  ;-)

	

	Peace,

	Joe

	

	

	

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