Tin Stars As The AI Data Center Building Boom Heats Up
Tin Stars As The AI Data Center Building Boom Heats Up
Publish Date: 2026-06-23 02:58:00
Source Domain: www.forbes.com
Small scale tin mining using dredges is being phased out in Indonesia. (Photo by Mahendra Moonstar/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Not since the bronze age of roughly 4000 years ago has demand for tin been so strong nor the price as high, reaching a record three weeks ago of $58,900 a ton.
Bronze tools and weapons made with an alloy of tin and copper soaked up tin in earlier eras whereas today it’s the solder used to connect metal components in computer circuit boards which is the new market for an old metal, earning it the nickname of the “glue” in electronics.
Artificial intelligence (AI) data centers have supercharged demand for tin-rich solder which, under the latest health regulations, must be lead free.
Soldering a circuit board component in China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
VCG via Getty Images
Solder is the primary market for tin today, with other uses such as tin-plating, which is driving an annual 3.5% increase in demand, falling short of an estimated 3% rise in supply.
The result of that supply/demand imbalance best explains tin’s 64% rise over the last 12 months from around $33,000/t to last trades on the London Metal Exchange $54,185/t, down slightly on the record price of earlier this month.
The tight market and important use in electronics also explains why tin is listed as a critical metal by most governments concerned about Chinese dominance of important commodities.
Biggest winner so far from the tin boom is PT Timah, a government-controlled mining company listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange.
Timah has seen its share price rise by 260% over the last 12-months, with that outperformance boosted by it being the recipient of tin mining and smelting businesses confiscated by the government during a crack-down on illegal mining and tin smuggling.
Going up. Strong demand and tight supply is driving the tin price higher.
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A similar picture of strong share price moves can be seen on other stock exchanges, including Australia where…
