Actual
3,721.05
Daily Change
-10.05 -0.27%
Monthly
-4.87%
Yearly
22.83%
Q4 Forecast
3,747.74
Zinc - Summary

Zinc futures hovered around $3,730 per ton, holding onto a rebound from a more than two-month low of $3,664.9 per ton touched on October 16, amid persistent near-term supply tightness. Tight supply is particularly evident in Western markets, where zinc production fell 3.4% year-on-year in the first half of 2026 amid high energy costs and limited raw material availability. Investors are also watching the outcome of Nyrstar’s strategic review of its loss-making Budel smelter in the Netherlands, with potential operational changes posing a threat to supply. Meanwhile, China’s refined zinc production fell 1.9% month-on-month and 6.4% year-on-year in September. Inventories in the Shanghai Futures Exchange declined 1.5% from the previous week, providing further support for prices.

Zinc - Stats

Zinc fell to 3,724.55 USD/T on October 21, 2026, down 0.18% from the previous day. Over the past month, Zinc's price has fallen 4.78%, but it is still 22.95% higher than a year ago, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Historically, Zinc reached an all time high of 4603 in November of 2006. Zinc - data, forecasts, historical chart - was last updated on October 21 of 2026.

Zinc - Forecast

Zinc fell to 3,724.55 USD/T on October 21, 2026, down 0.18% from the previous day. Over the past month, Zinc's price has fallen 4.78%, but it is still 22.95% higher than a year ago, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Zinc is expected to trade at 3747.74 USD/MT by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate it to trade at 3949.50 in 12 months time.



Price Day Month Year Date
Coal 150.65 -0.05 -0.03% 4.58% 44.86% Oct/20
Bitumen 4,658.00 110.00 2.42% -8.29% 41.97% Oct/21
Cobalt 34,620.00 -1085 -3.04% -12.75% -24.16% Oct/20
Lead 1,895.68 2.25 0.12% -2.20% -4.98% Oct/21
Aluminum 3,015.95 -3.55 -0.12% -7.53% 7.34% Oct/21
Tin 50,839.00 455 0.90% -5.76% 44.00% Oct/19
Zinc 3,721.05 -10.05 -0.27% -4.87% 22.83% Oct/21
Nickel 16,001.38 186 1.18% -3.40% 5.69% Oct/21
Molybdenum 608.50 -2.00 -0.33% -1.93% 18.73% Oct/21
Palladium 1,083.00 -22.00 -1.99% -17.08% -26.48% Oct/21
Gallium 1,740.00 0 0% -1.14% 2.65% Oct/21
Germanium 28,500.00 250 0.89% 5.56% 100.00% Oct/21
Manganese 28.85 0 0% 0% -2.70% Oct/21
Indium 4,750.00 -300 -5.94% -9.95% 88.12% Oct/21
Soda Ash 1,050.00 0 0% 0% -11.47% Oct/20
Neodymium 945,000.00 -2500 -0.26% -0.53% 35.97% Oct/21
Tellurium 798.50 0 0% 0% 27.76% Oct/21
Rhodium 9,100.00 0 0% -0.55% 18.18% Oct/21


Zinc
Zinc Futures are available for trading in The London Metal Exchange (LME). The standard contract size it 25 tonnes. Zinc is often used in die-casting alloys, castings, brass products, sheeting products, chemicals, medicine, paints and batteries. The biggest producers of zinc are. China, Peru, Australia, United States, Canada, India and Kazakhstan. Zinc prices displayed in Trading Economics are based on over-the-counter (OTC) and contract for difference (CFD) financial instruments. Our market prices are intended to provide you with a reference only, rather than as a basis for making trading decisions. The data is supplied by a third party and, while efforts are made to ensure its accuracy, Trading Economics does not verify the data and makes no representations or warranties regarding its accuracy..
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
3724.55 3731.10 4603.00 176.37 1960 - 2026 USD/MT Daily

News Stream
Zinc Holds Rebound
Zinc futures hovered around $3,730 per ton, holding onto a rebound from a more than two-month low of $3,664.9 per ton touched on October 16, amid persistent near-term supply tightness. Tight supply is particularly evident in Western markets, where zinc production fell 3.4% year-on-year in the first half of 2026 amid high energy costs and limited raw material availability. Investors are also watching the outcome of Nyrstar’s strategic review of its loss-making Budel smelter in the Netherlands, with potential operational changes posing a threat to supply. Meanwhile, China’s refined zinc production fell 1.9% month-on-month and 6.4% year-on-year in September. Inventories in the Shanghai Futures Exchange declined 1.5% from the previous week, providing further support for prices.
2026-10-20
Zinc Falls to Over 2-Month Low
Zinc futures fell below $3,700 per ton in mid-October, their lowest level since early August, weighed down by the prospect of increased Chinese zinc concentrate availability and a stronger US dollar. Chinese mine output is expected to rise month-on-month in October as operations resume at mines previously disrupted by accidents and safety inspections. However, supply concerns persist in Western markets, where zinc production fell by 3.4% year-on-year in the first half of 2026 amid elevated energy costs and limited raw materials. Further production risks hinge on the outcome of Nyrstar’s strategic review of its loss-making Budel smelter in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, rising Chinese exports have helped ease tightness in the LME market, although the benchmark spread remains in backwardation, suggesting that nearby supply conditions remain relatively tight. A robust US dollar has added further pressure by making dollar-denominated commodities more expensive for holders of other currencies.
2026-10-15
Zinc Rebounds Amid Persistent Tight Supply
Zinc futures traded above $3,700 per tonne, recovering from a more than six-week low of $3,698 reached on October 2, amid persistent supply tightness as Western smelter capacity shrinks. Western refined zinc production fell 3.4% year-on-year in the first half of 2026 amid high energy costs and tight raw materials. Nyrstar’s strategic review of its loss-making Budel smelter in the Netherlands has added to concerns about production losses. The tight availability in the LME market has encouraged Chinese producers to ship more metal overseas, with China exporting 40,668 tonnes of zinc in August, the second-highest monthly volume in nearly two decades. 80% of China’s outbound shipments in August went to LME warehouses in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan, easing tightness in the market. However, the benchmark spread remains in backwardation, indicating that near-term supply is still relatively tight. A stronger US dollar also weighs on greenback-priced commodities.
2026-10-08