Often considered unattractive compared with its higher margin cousins such as copper and aluminium, tin is once again capturing the attention of base metals investors.

Along with other industrial metals, prices of tin have softened in recent weeks amid concerns over a global withdrawal of liquidity and waning Chinese appetite for commodities. Tin has fallen 16.7 per cent from a record high above $US33,000 a tonne set in April, but is holding onto a 2.9 per cent gain for the year.