The 20 smelters in Antaike's monthly tin production survey churned out 13,369 tonnes of the metal last month.

Refined tin exports stood at 7,497.19 tonnes in August, up from 6,158.67 tonnes last year and 14.27% higher than July.

Hichilema also designated Francis Chipimo to act as central bank governor.

Joint venture seeks to eventually develop the Upper Kobuk Mineral projects in Alaska's Ambler mining district

About 200 tonnes of nickel, 50 tonnes of copper, 80 kg of platinum group metals, 2 kg of gold and 44 kg of silver were extracted last month from low-nickel pyrrhotite product.

The success of either bid will put high-profile Ring of Fire nickel asset in Australian hands.

China's copper imports in August dropped 41% year-on-year as high prices and sluggish economic growth kept a lid on demand.