SHFE Tin Inventory & Settlement
Warehouse inventory, futures settlement prices, and open interest data
About SHFE Tin Data
SHFE tin inventory tracks physical tin ingots stored in exchange-approved warehouses. Tin is a critical metal for electronics manufacturing, used primarily in solder for circuit boards and semiconductor packaging. China is both the largest producer and consumer of tin, making SHFE stocks the most important inventory indicator for this market. This page also includes daily settlement prices, volume, and open interest data for all active tin futures contracts, with historical data going back to 2020.
SHFE Tin Futures Contract Details
The SHFE tin futures contract has a standard lot size of 1 tonne (1,000 kilograms), priced in Chinese yuan (CNY) per tonne. The minimum tick size is 10 CNY/tonne, and contracts are available for delivery across multiple months. Initial margin requirements are typically 10-12% of the contract value, reflecting tin's relatively high volatility due to its smaller market size.
Physical delivery requires tin ingots meeting SHFE specifications, with a minimum purity of 99.9% Sn. Deliverable brands include registered domestic and international producers. Tin ingots must be stored in SHFE-approved warehouses.
Tin has the smallest market of all SHFE-traded base metals, which means that relatively modest changes in supply or demand can cause outsized price movements and inventory swings. This lower liquidity compared to copper or aluminum means that traders should be aware of wider bid-ask spreads and potentially higher slippage when trading SHFE tin futures.
China's Electronics and Solder Industry
China is the world's largest electronics manufacturer, and tin is an essential material for the solder used in printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, semiconductor packaging, and electronic connectors. Approximately 50% of global tin consumption goes to solder applications, and China's dominance in electronics manufacturing makes SHFE tin demand a direct reflection of the global electronics production cycle.
SHFE tin inventory movements closely track electronics production cycles. Stock drawdowns typically accelerate during periods of strong consumer electronics demand (particularly in the second half of the year ahead of the holiday shopping season) and during semiconductor production ramp-ups. Conversely, inventory may build during electronics industry downturns or when supply chains carry excess inventory.
Beyond electronics, tin is also used in tin plating (for food cans and packaging), chemicals, and emerging applications such as lead-free solders mandated by environmental regulations. China's growing semiconductor self-sufficiency ambitions are expected to be an additional driver of domestic tin demand in the coming years, as new chip fabrication facilities require significant amounts of tin for packaging and assembly processes.
Data Sources & Methodology
MetalCharts sources SHFE tin settlement prices and weekly warrant stock data from official Shanghai Futures Exchange data feeds. Settlement prices are updated daily after market close, covering all active tin futures delivery months with open, high, low, close, volume, open interest, and turnover figures.
Inventory data is published by SHFE on a weekly basis and includes per-warehouse breakdowns. Tin inventory is displayed in metric tons as reported by the exchange. Historical data is available going back to 2020.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How is SHFE tin inventory measured?
- SHFE tin inventory is measured in metric tons. Tin is stored as ingots meeting exchange specifications in SHFE-approved warehouses.
- Why is SHFE tin inventory important?
- China is the world's largest tin consumer, primarily for electronics soldering. SHFE tin stocks reflect demand from semiconductor and electronics manufacturing.
- What makes tin unique among SHFE metals?
- Tin has the smallest market of all SHFE-traded base metals, making inventory changes more impactful on prices. Supply is concentrated in a few countries (China, Indonesia, Myanmar), adding to volatility.
- What is the SHFE tin settlement price?
- The SHFE tin settlement price is the official daily benchmark used for margin calculations and delivery invoicing. It reflects the weighted average of trades during the closing period and is a key reference for Chinese domestic tin pricing.
- How does electronics manufacturing affect SHFE tin demand?
- China is the world's largest electronics manufacturer, and tin is essential for soldering in circuit boards, semiconductor packaging, and connectors. SHFE tin demand closely tracks electronics production cycles, with inventory drawdowns accelerating during periods of strong consumer electronics and semiconductor output.
- Why is SHFE tin inventory so volatile?
- Tin has the smallest market of all SHFE-traded base metals, so relatively small changes in supply or demand can cause outsized inventory swings. Additionally, tin supply is concentrated in a few countries (China, Indonesia, and Myanmar), meaning export restrictions or mine disruptions in any one country can rapidly tighten the global market and draw down SHFE stocks.