Vietnam’s tinplate factory to operate at full capacity
According to recent news in the market, Vietnam's tinplate factory called Perstima will operate at full capacity in 2005. The factory supplies cheaper tin to the can makers in the country. Malaysia-based Perstima came on stream in October 2003 and currently meets 70% of the can makers' tin requirements in Vietnam. Before Perstima was built, can makers used to import all of their raw materials. The fact that tin price of Perstima is a bit lower than imported tin pleases domestic can makers. Currently Vietnam's tin demand is 50'000 tons per annum and Perstima has the capacity to produce 90'000 tons of tin per annum. However, the company will operate at full capacity next year. Perstima has been producing 3'000 tons per month, 2'000 tons have been sold to domestic market and the remaining to the parent company in Malaysia.