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Global Zinc Market Trends
Zinc demand is mainly driven by the production of galvanised steel, which is extensively used in numerous sectors from construction, infrastructure, and automobiles to home appliances, machinery, and shipbuilding.
Mining Technology tracks the global zinc market by analysing zinc price trends and country-wise zinc production, consumption, and export and import data. The performance of zinc mining companies and major zinc mines around the world is also monitored.
Global zinc production is recovering after COVID-19 hit the output causing a 5.9% decline to 12.1 million tonnes (Mt) in 2020. Zinc production is expected to reach 13.9Mt in 2025, according to GlobalData’s estimates.
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GlobalData forecasts data for 15 commodities of 60 leading mining countries, with 70 reports per year covering supply & demand, key projects, activities of major mining companies and fiscal regimes.
Zinc Price Trend: Trailing 12 Months
Mining Technology displays the global zinc price trend over the last 12 months.
The price of zinc rose by 9.1% in March, peaking at US$4,260/t at the end of the month.
The price of zinc averaged US$3,974/t in March. Prices have continued to rise since the COVID-19-induced slump in Q1 2020 and are expected to remain high in 2022, averaging over US$3,000/t in the year.
Largest Zinc Mining Companies in the World
Mining Technology has identified the world’s largest zinc mining companies by comparing the annual output of major zinc miners operating in different parts of the globe.
Glencore was the world’s largest zinc producing company in 2020, followed by Vedanta Resources and Teck Resources.
The ten largest zinc mining companies in the world together accounted for 35% of the global total zinc output in 2020.
| Current Rank | Rank 2019 | Company Name | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Glencore plc | Switzerland |
| 2 | 2 | Vedanta Resources Ltd | United Kingdom |
| 3 | 3 | Teck Resources Ltd | Canada |
| 4 | 4 | Zijin Mining Group Co Ltd | China |
| 5 | 5 | Industrias Penoles SAB de CV | Mexico |
| 6 | 6 | Boliden AB | Sweden |
| 7 | 7 | China Minmetals Corp | China |
| 8 | 10 | Newmont Corp | United States |
| 9 | 8 | Volcan Compania Minera SAA | Peru |
| 10 | 9 | Lundin Mining Corp | Canada |
Source: GlobalData
Expert Comments and Analysis
Top Zinc Producing Countries
The top zinc producing countries are drawn from GlobalData’s comprehensive database capturing the annual production volumes of major zinc mining countries in the world.
The world’s largest zinc mining countries in 2020 included China, Peru and Australia.
The ten top zinc producing countries together accounted for 83% of the global zinc output in 2020.
Biggest Zinc Mines in the World
GlobalData maintains a database of major zinc mining projects around the world to identify the world’s biggest zinc mines.
With a production of 0.86Mtpa, Ghazaouet Mine in Algeria topped the list of the world’s biggest zinc mines in 2020.
The ten biggest zinc mining operations in the world together accounted for 28% of the global zinc output in 2020.
| Mine Name | Country | State | Owner | Mine Type & Method | Production 2020 (Thousand tonnes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghazaouet Mine | Algeria | Tlemcen | Entreprise Nationale de Metallurgie & de Transformation des Metaux non Ferreux, Spa(100%) | To be confirmed & To be confirmed | 869.06 |
| Red Dog Mine | United States | Alaska | Teck Resources Ltd(100%) | Surface & Open Pit | 490.7 |
| Rampura Agucha Mine | India | Rajasthan | Vedanta Resources Ltd(64.92%), Government of India(29.54%), Undisclosed(5.54%) | Underground & Long Hole Stoping | 369.4 |
| Mount Isa Zinc Mine | Australia | Queensland | Glencore Plc(100%) | Surface and Underground & Open Pit/Long Hole Stoping | 354.2 |
| McArthur River Mine (Zinc) | Australia | Northern Territory | Glencore Plc(100%) | Surface & Open Cut | 279.3 |
| Antamina Mine | Peru | Ancash | Glencore Plc(33.75%), BHP(33.75%), Teck Resources Ltd(22.5%), Mitsubishi Corp(10%) | Surface & Open Pit | 262.11 |
| Bashkirskaya Med Mine | Russia | Republic of Bashkortostan | Ural Mining and Metallurgical Co(100%) | Underground & To be confirmed | 245.97 |
| Golden Grove Mine | Australia | Western Australia | EMR Capital Group(100%) | Underground & Stoping | 192.73 |
| San Cristobal Mine | Bolivia | Potosi | Sumitomo Corp(100%) | Surface & Open Pit | 185.18 |
| Fankou Mine | China | Guangdong | Shenzhen Zhongjin Lingnan Nonfemet Co Ltd(100%) | Underground & To be confirmed | 181.98 |
Source: GlobalData
GlobalData Reports
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Major Upcoming Zinc Mines
GlobalData lists the major upcoming zinc mines in the world by comparing annual production capacities of upcoming zinc mining projects.
The Ozernoe Mine in Russia is the biggest upcoming zinc mine in the world, with an annual production capacity of 0.35Mt.
The Pickett Mountain Project in the US and the Pavlovskoye Project in Russia are the next major upcoming zinc mines with capacities of 0.27Mt and 0.22Mt, respectively.
| Mine Name | Country | State | Owner | Mine Type & Method | Annual Production Capacity (Thousand tonnes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozernoe Mine | Russia | Buryatia | Metropol Group(100%) | Surface & Open Pit | 350 |
| Pickett Mountain Project | United States | Maine | Wolfden Resources Corporation(100%) | Underground & Long Hole Stoping | 272.22 |
| Pavlovskoye Project | Russia | Arkhangelsk Oblast | State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom(99.5%), Undisclosed(0.5%) | Surface & Open Pit | 223 |
| Kipushi Project | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Katanga | Ivanhoe Mines Ltd(68%), Gecamines SA(32%) | Underground & Sub Level Stoping | 207 |
| Citronen Project | Greenland | Northeast Greenland National Park | Ironbark Zinc Ltd(100%) | Surface and Underground & Open Pit/Room and Pillar | 185.68 |
| Izok Corridor Project | Canada | Nunavut | China Minmetals Corp(74%), Undisclosed(26%) | Surface and Underground & Open Pit | 180 |
| Admiral Bay Project | Australia | Western Australia | Metalicity Ltd(80.3%), Undisclosed(19.7%) | Underground & Room and Pillar | 174 |
| Pine Point Project | Canada | Northwest Territories | Osisko Metals Inc.(100%) | Surface and Underground & Open Pit/Long Hole Stoping | 148.32 |
| HacKett River Project | Canada | Nunavut | Glencore Plc(100%) | Surface and Underground & Open Cut | 147.28 |
| Coricancha Expansion Mine | Peru | Huaral | Great Panther Mining Ltd(100%) | Underground & Cut and Fill | 141.81 |
Source: GlobalData
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