While zinc quietly underpins everything from our smartphones to skyscrapers, its global production is a loud story of concentrated power, with China alone pulling 4.3 million metric tons from the ground in 2022—nearly a third of the entire world’s output.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, global zinc mine production totaled 13.3 million metric tons, with China leading at 4.3 million metric tons.
- Peru's zinc mine production in 2022 was 1.4 million metric tons, accounting for 10.5% of global output.
- Australia's zinc production from mines reached 1.1 million metric tons in 2022.
- Global zinc reserves are estimated at 253 million metric tons as of 2022.
- Australia's zinc reserves stand at 60 million metric tons, the largest globally in 2022.
- China's identified zinc resources total 44 million metric tons in 2022.
- Global zinc consumption reached 13.4 million metric tons in 2022.
- Galvanizing accounted for 52% of global zinc consumption in 2022, or 7 million tons.
- Brass and bronze production consumed 14% of zinc, about 1.9 million tons in 2022.
- Average LME zinc price in 2022 was $3,400 per metric ton.
- Zinc spot price peaked at $4,100 per ton on LME in March 2022.
- Annual average zinc price on SHFE in 2022 was 24,500 RMB per ton.
- Global zinc exports totaled 3.8 million metric tons in 2022.
- China's zinc exports reached 0.45 million tons in 2022.
- Netherlands was the top zinc exporter with 1.2 million tons in 2022.
China leads global zinc production and consumption, with Asia dominating the market.
Consumption
- Global zinc consumption reached 13.4 million metric tons in 2022.
- Galvanizing accounted for 52% of global zinc consumption in 2022, or 7 million tons.
- Brass and bronze production consumed 14% of zinc, about 1.9 million tons in 2022.
- Die-casting alloys used 12% of zinc consumption, equating to 1.6 million tons in 2022.
- Chemicals and rubber consumed 9% or 1.2 million tons of zinc in 2022.
- Construction sector zinc demand was 4.5 million tons globally in 2022.
- Automotive industry consumed 1.8 million tons of zinc for galvanizing in 2022.
- China's zinc consumption totaled 6.5 million metric tons in 2022.
- United States zinc apparent consumption was 0.85 million tons in 2022.
- Germany's zinc use reached 0.45 million tons in 2022.
- India's zinc consumption grew to 1.1 million tons in 2022.
- Europe consumed 2.8 million tons of zinc metal in 2022.
- Recycling supplied 30% of zinc consumption, or 4 million tons in 2022.
- Zinc demand for infrastructure projects increased 5% to 3.2 million tons in 2022.
- Battery sector zinc use was 0.3 million tons in 2022, up 15% YoY.
- Global zinc demand growth was 1.8% in 2022.
- Steel galvanizing slab zinc demand was 12.5 million tons in 2022.
- Zinc oxide consumption for tires reached 0.9 million tons in 2022.
- Electronics industry zinc use totaled 0.2 million tons in 2022.
- Renewable energy infrastructure drove 0.4 million tons zinc demand in 2022.
Consumption Interpretation
While over half our zinc is faithfully employed as rust's relentless foe in galvanizing, its diverse talents shine from the brass in our doorknobs to the oxide in our tires, proving this blue-grey workhorse is not just about steel but the quiet skeleton of modern life.
Prices
- Average LME zinc price in 2022 was $3,400 per metric ton.
- Zinc spot price peaked at $4,100 per ton on LME in March 2022.
- Annual average zinc price on SHFE in 2022 was 24,500 RMB per ton.
- Zinc futures price volatility index averaged 25% in 2022.
- US zinc import duty-inclusive price averaged $3,600/ton in 2022.
- Zinc premium for European delivery averaged $150/ton in 2022.
- LME zinc 3-month price closed at $3,050/ton end of 2022.
- Zinc treatment charges (TCs) averaged $45/ton in 2022.
- Zinc refining charges fell to $40/dmt in Q4 2022.
- Zinc cash settlement price averaged $3,450/ton on LME in 2022.
- Benchmark zinc price for concentrates was 58% payable in 2022.
- Zinc price correlation with copper was 0.75 in 2022.
- Inflation-adjusted zinc price in 2022 was $3,200/ton in 2020 dollars.
- Zinc forward curve was in contango by $50/ton average in 2022.
- SHFE zinc stock levels influenced prices, averaging 50,000 tons in 2022.
- LME zinc inventories hit a low of 90,000 tons in May 2022.
- Zinc price forecast for 2023 averaged $3,200/ton by analysts in late 2022.
- Historical zinc price high in 2022 was $4,300/ton intraday.
- Zinc price dropped 15% in Q4 2022 due to demand slowdown.
Prices Interpretation
The zinc market in 2022 was a volatile rollercoaster that peaked in a spring frenzy before slumping into a year-end hangover, leaving everyone a bit queasy and holding bills that were, on average, painfully sobering.
Production
- In 2022, global zinc mine production totaled 13.3 million metric tons, with China leading at 4.3 million metric tons.
- Peru's zinc mine production in 2022 was 1.4 million metric tons, accounting for 10.5% of global output.
- Australia's zinc production from mines reached 1.1 million metric tons in 2022.
- India produced 0.8 million metric tons of zinc from mines in 2022.
- United States zinc mine production was 0.7 million metric tons in 2022.
- Mexico's zinc output from mines stood at 0.65 million metric tons in 2022.
- Kazakhstan produced 0.4 million metric tons of zinc in 2022.
- Canada zinc mine production was 0.35 million metric tons in 2022.
- Sweden's zinc production reached 0.3 million metric tons in 2022.
- Ireland produced 0.22 million metric tons of zinc from mines in 2022.
- Global refined zinc production in 2022 was 13.1 million metric tons.
- China's refined zinc output was 5.8 million metric tons in 2022.
- South Korea refined 1.2 million metric tons of zinc in 2022.
- India refined 0.95 million metric tons of zinc in 2022.
- Japan produced 0.85 million metric tons of refined zinc in 2022.
- Germany's refined zinc production was 0.72 million metric tons in 2022.
- Zinc production at Glencore's Mount Isa mine in Australia was 220,000 metric tons in 2022.
- Teck Resources' Red Dog mine in Alaska produced 552,400 metric tons of zinc in 2022.
- Boliden's Aitik mine contributed 0.15 million metric tons to Sweden's zinc production in 2022.
- Vedanta's Rampura Agucha mine in India produced 0.5 million metric tons of zinc concentrate in 2022.
- Global zinc production grew by 2.1% from 2021 to 2022.
- China's zinc mine production capacity utilization rate was 85% in 2022.
- Peru's Antamina mine produced 450,000 metric tons of zinc in 2022.
- Zinc output from underground mines worldwide accounted for 70% of total production in 2022.
- Open-pit zinc mining produced 4.2 million metric tons globally in 2022.
- Zinc production costs averaged $1,200 per metric ton in 2022 for primary producers.
- Secondary zinc production from recycling reached 2.8 million metric tons worldwide in 2022.
- Europe’s primary zinc smelters produced 2.1 million metric tons in 2022.
- Asia dominated zinc production with 72% of global mine output in 2022.
- Latin America's zinc mine production totaled 2.3 million metric tons in 2022.
Production Interpretation
While China solidly galvanizes its position as the world's zinc titan, producing nearly a third of all mined material, the global stage reveals a meticulous and surprisingly balanced alloy of major players, strategic smelters, and relentless recyclers, all meticulously measured down to the last metric ton.
Reserves
- Global zinc reserves are estimated at 253 million metric tons as of 2022.
- Australia's zinc reserves stand at 60 million metric tons, the largest globally in 2022.
- China's identified zinc resources total 44 million metric tons in 2022.
- Peru holds 19 million metric tons of zinc reserves as per 2022 data.
- Mexico's zinc reserves are 14 million metric tons in 2022.
- India's zinc reserves amount to 7.3 million metric tons in 2022.
- Russia's zinc reserves are estimated at 12 million metric tons in 2022.
- United States zinc reserves totaled 9 million metric tons in 2022.
- Kazakhstan's zinc reserves stand at 8 million metric tons as of 2022.
- Canada's zinc reserves are 6.5 million metric tons in 2022.
- Ireland holds 3.2 million metric tons of zinc reserves in 2022.
- Poland's zinc reserves are 18 million metric tons in 2022.
- Global zinc resources (identified) exceed 700 million metric tons in 2022.
- Australia's total zinc resources are 65 million metric tons including reserves in 2022.
- Sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) deposits hold 45% of global zinc reserves in 2022.
- Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) deposits account for 25% of zinc reserves worldwide in 2022.
- Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide (VMS) deposits contain 15% of zinc reserves in 2022.
- Zinc reserve life index globally is 19 years at 2022 production rates.
- China's zinc reserve-to-production ratio was 10 years in 2022.
- Australia's zinc R/P ratio exceeds 50 years based on 2022 data.
- Peru's zinc reserves support 13 years of production as of 2022.
- High-grade zinc reserves (>10% Zn) total 50 million metric tons globally in 2022.
- Low-grade zinc resources (<5% Zn) exceed 400 million metric tons in 2022.
- Zinc endowment in ocean floor nodules estimated at 250 million tons in 2022 studies.
Reserves Interpretation
While Australia currently sits on the global zinc throne with its vast reserves, boasting over half a century of supply, the world's 19-year runway highlights a pressing need to efficiently tap into our enormous, lower-grade resources and oceanic potential before this critical element becomes a relic.
Trade
- Global zinc exports totaled 3.8 million metric tons in 2022.
- China's zinc exports reached 0.45 million tons in 2022.
- Netherlands was the top zinc exporter with 1.2 million tons in 2022.
- South Korea exported 0.95 million tons of refined zinc in 2022.
- Belgium's zinc exports amounted to 0.8 million tons in 2022.
- Japan's zinc exports totaled 0.3 million tons in 2022.
- Australia's zinc concentrate exports were 2.1 million tons in 2022.
- Peru exported 1.1 million tons of zinc concentrates in 2022.
- Global zinc imports reached 3.9 million tons in 2022.
- United States imported 0.7 million tons of zinc in 2022.
- China's zinc imports were 0.35 million tons in 2022.
- India's zinc imports totaled 0.75 million tons in 2022.
- South Korea imported 0.4 million tons of zinc in 2022.
- Germany's zinc imports were 0.55 million tons in 2022.
- Zinc trade volume grew 4% YoY to $15 billion in 2022.
- Top zinc trade route: Australia to South Korea, 0.8 million tons in 2022.
- EU intra-trade zinc volume was 1.5 million tons in 2022.
- US-Mexico zinc trade totaled 0.3 million tons in 2022.
- Zinc concentrate trade share was 55% of total zinc trade in 2022.
- Refined zinc slab trade accounted for 40% globally in 2022.
- Asia-Pacific region dominated zinc imports with 45% share in 2022.
- Freight costs for zinc shipping averaged $80/ton in 2022.
- Anti-dumping duties on zinc from China affected 10% of US imports in 2022.
- Zinc trade balance for China was +0.1 million tons in 2022.
Trade Interpretation
Despite China's notorious industrial dominance, 2022's zinc trade reveals a surprisingly balanced global affair, with the Netherlands quietly exporting a lion's share while even the mighty U.S. relies on imports, proving that in the metallic hustle, everyone is both a supplier and a customer in this $15 billion game.
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