The downstreaming of the tin sector in Indonesia is currently progressing well. Dadan Kusdiana, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), has stated that the tin industry has shown commitment to downstreaming through the establishment of industries producing tin solder, tin chemical, and tin plate. In an effort to enhance industrial integration, the Ministry of ESDM is promoting the accelerated downstreaming of minerals and coal, including the integration from mining to smelting and the manufacturing of mineral-based products. Tin is indeed making progress, and The Ministry aim for similar outcomes in other sectors. Minister of ESDM Arifin Tasrif added that the downstreaming strategy involves the integration of mining and smelting, the development of advanced industries, and the application of processed mineral products. This is aimed at supporting the development of an integrated industrial ecosystem within the country. Indonesia, with total tin resources reaching 7.2 million tons of tin ore (SnO2) and 2.4 million tons of tin (Sn), has witnessed the application of tin in various industries such as electronics, automotive, and semiconductors. Arifin stated that electronics factories generally use solder, while tin chemical products are used by PVC pipe and food packaging factories.

The government has provided incentives to enhance downstreaming, including supply integration, to ensure that raw material prices remain competitive in the international market. There are incentives for investment development, and The Ministry ensure the availability of raw materials. As a successful example of downstreaming, PT Timah Tbk (TINS) has been processing tin into tin solder since 2009. Its subsidiary, PT Timah Industri, has developed the tin chemical industry with three tin chemical plants and one tin solder plant. These products are widely used in the automotive and electronics industries. Additionally, tin is used as a coating material in various industries and applications, such as food cans, containers, and pipes. Globally, China, Indonesia, and Myanmar are the main tin suppliers, with China dominating global consumption. However, tin consumption in Indonesia is still relatively low.

Source: https://amp.kontan.co.id/news/hilirisasi-sektor-minerba-dinilai-berjalan-optimal-di-sektor-nikel