London Metal Exchange (LME) tin closed just below a fresh 14-year set earlier in the day on fund interest in the metal drove prices higher, traders said on Wednesday.
Other metals ended softer. Tin ended Wednesday's open outcry at $7,610 a tonne, up from $7,380 at the previous kerb.
During the day the market peaked at $7,685.
"There's not a seller in sight. It's been doing its own thing for the last few weeks, but we are seeing selling in the rest of the complex and that could work its way into tin as well," he added.
"Fundamentally tin is very tight. Stocks are low and they are drawn on every day and the funds are keen," a second trader said.
Copper closed at $2,941 versus $2,994 at Tuesday's kerb close.
The market was edgy and traders said pressure on nearby copper stemmed from an extreme shortage of spot availability
"We've been pretty bearish for a while and finally we've seen it come off. I think the market has been running long and we might be seeing a bit of liquidation," the LME trader said.
LME warehouse inventories have fallen continually since mid December, and much of the metal remaining in store is not available.
"It's possible the stocks might disappear later in the year. If it goes down to that level, presumably the price will go to a very high level," one European producer said.
Another miner said that prices would hit $4,000 a tonne if demand from China continued.
Aluminium was $27 lower at $1,668.
"I expect aluminium will continue to follow copper, but technically it doesn't look that strong. We could see it come off a bit, as long as copper doesn't rally too much," the first trader said.
Nickel was $50 lower at $13,800.
"I don't know what's going on in nickel. There was some trade buying this morning, but now some selling has been coming in.
Zinc was $1,130 at the kerb, $18 lower, while lead fell $24.50 to $865.
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