Malaysian tin closed $50 up on Thursday to return to the $9,000 tonne level for the first time in more than a week.
But demand was thin with buyers on the local market unwilling to pay dearly for the metal despite a sharp jump on Wednesday's London price. Trade in spot tin on the Kuala Lumpur Tin Market (KLTM) also slackened to 65 tonnes from 68 a day.
The market was last in the $9,000 range when it closed at $9,130 on June 22. "Buyers seemed reserved in paying more for tin on the KLTM, so sellers are also holding back," said a trader, describing on Thursday's action.
Japanese, European and Malaysian buyers put up bids for 85 tonnes at the outset of Thursday's KLTM, against sellers' offers totalling 56 tonnes.
The two sides matched positions at 65 tonnes. The smaller rise in the KLTM price versus the LME slashed the premium for shipping a tonne of Malaysian tin to Europe, including freight and other costs, to $455 from $625 previously, dealers said.