Tin prices displayed a declining trend in 2002. Industry observers attributed lower prices to an oversupply of tin in the market. World tin consumption also was believed to have declined somewhat during the year because many countries experienced an economic slowdown. The world tinplate industry continued to be characterized by more mergers and consolidations. Sufficient world resources, principally in western Africa, southeastern Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, China, and Russia are available to sustain recent annual production rates. Global tinn in concentrate production was estimated at 142 100 t in 2003 compared to 140 900 t in 2002.