Virginia is set to host the nation’s first large-scale tin refining facility as Nathan Trotter, a major North American supplier and recycler of tin, announced a $65 million investment in Henry County.
The company, which has operated in metal manufacturing for more than two centuries, will build a 115,000-square-foot plant on a 44-acre site near Martinsville. The project, called Tin Ridge, will process both tin concentrate and scrap tin, marking the first U.S. facility to refine significant volumes of the critical mineral.
Jobs, Workforce, and Local Support
The facility is expected to create 118 jobs in Southern Virginia, bringing advanced manufacturing opportunities to the region. Workforce availability and logistical advantages were central to the company’s decision. “We selected Henry County and the state of Virginia for the talented workforce and proximity to key ports, customers, suppliers, and our network of tin production facilities throughout the region,” said Tyler Morris, vice president and partner at Nathan Trotter.
State and local partners, including the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation, helped secure the investment. Governor Glenn Youngkin approved a $1.5 million grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to support the initiative.
U.S. Dependence on Tin Imports
Tin is widely used in electronics, soldering, and defense applications, but U.S. production remains limited. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the nation imported about 25,000 metric tons of refined tin in 2024, meeting roughly 73 percent of its apparent consumption. Recycling accounted for only 27 percent of demand. Most imports came from Peru, Bolivia, Indonesia, and Brazil, while China continues to dominate global refining capacity.
Strengthening Supply Chain Resilience
Analysts note that geographic concentration of refining capacity creates risks of disruption from export restrictions or geopolitical tensions. By establishing the Tin Ridge facility, Virginia is positioning itself as a central hub for domestic tin refining, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers and bolstering the national defense industrial base.
