By Franz Wild
Aug. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Tin exporters in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa's biggest producer of the metal, offered to increase tax payments to resolve a dispute that has halted shipments.
The Association of Exporters of Minerals of North Kivu offered to pay 5 percent of the London Metal Exchange tin price, the group's president, John Kanyoni, said in a telephone interview today. The association previously said it was prepared to pay 3.75 percent.
``We also want a formula to get the goods out quickly,'' Kanyoni said from the capital, Kinshasa.
On June 23, the customs office more than tripled the benchmark price for tin ore to $14 a metric ton, boosting the traders' tax liabilities. The increase caused exporters in North Kivu, which accounts for three-quarters of the country's tin shipments, to halt exports. Congo is Africa's largest tin producer and accounts for 4 percent of world supply.
Since shipments were halted, exporters accumulated about 2,500 tons of ore in warehouses, Kanyoni said Aug. 7. The exporters yesterday met with representatives from the Customs and Excise Department, Congolese Office of Control, the Center for Expertise, Evaluation and Certification, and the Technical Cell for Mining Coordination and Planning, all government bodies with taxing rights.
``We are expecting a decision from the Mines Ministry and Finance Ministry tomorrow,'' Kanyoni said.
Mines Ministry representative Gaby Matshafu, who chaired yesterday's meeting, had his mobile phone switched off when called for comment today.
Congo exported 16,870 tons of tin ore in 2006, according to the U.K.'s Department for International Development.
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