This article presents the international tin industry as an oligopoly organized around the International Tin Council, making it a cartel with important participation in determining tin prices, mainly between the years 1960 and beginning of 1980. As a consequence of the oil shocks and the international crisis in the end of years 1970, the association of manufacturers began to have difficulties in managing the interests of its members and in controlling the buffer stock, facilitating the appearance of new producers. The Brazilian industry emerges in this scenario, benefiting from the artificial prices in the international market, from incentives granted by the Brazilian government and from its good quality mines, thus increasing its participation in the international market and contributing to the end of the collusion in 1985.
Tin industry; Oligopoly; Cartel
