Tin prices surge in 2026 driven by AI and chip demand

Tin has emerged as a top-performing metal in 2026, outperforming gold and silver due to supply constraints and surging industrial demand. Driven by the expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure, tin is a critical component in solder used to connect electronic parts in chips, servers, and memory modules. BMI has raised its average tin price forecast for 2026 to $51,500 per ton, up from a previous estimate of $49,000.

Tin prices reached a historic peak of $59,040 per ton on the London Metal Exchange in June. While prices have seen some corrections, they remain high, with year-to-date gains exceeding 35%. Demand linked to AI is projected to more than double by 2030.

Other industrial metals are also seeing upward trends. Zinc has seen a 19.84% premium in 2026, while copper prices continue to rise amid potential US tariffs on refined copper imports and global supply shortages. In contrast, precious metals like gold and silver have faced pressure due to rising US inflation data and expectations regarding Federal Reserve interest rate policies, which have strengthened the US dollar.