Zinc Holds Decline

2026-09-11 03:52 By Judith Sib-at 1 min. read

Zinc prices hovered below $3,900 per tonne after pulling back sharply from an over four-year high, amid a broader, sentiment-driven selloff across the base-metals complex.

The downturn was triggered by a report that the White House was hesitating over import tariffs on refined copper, prompting traders to unwind bullish positions and take profits.

Prices also declined amid the prospect of increased Chinese export deliveries to the LME.

Still, losses were limited by supply pressures, with production disruptions at several mines, including in China, while Middle East tensions have restricted Iranian ore shipments.

Major zinc mines, including Antamina in Peru and Red Dog in Alaska, have seen output drop as they work through lower-grade sections of their ore bodies.

LME warehouse inventories remain low relative to historical levels, while physical availability remains tight outside China.

Sharply lower smelter treatment charges further signal tight concentrate supplies.



News Stream
Zinc Holds Decline
Zinc prices hovered below $3,900 per tonne after pulling back sharply from an over four-year high, amid a broader, sentiment-driven selloff across the base-metals complex. The downturn was triggered by a report that the White House was hesitating over import tariffs on refined copper, prompting traders to unwind bullish positions and take profits. Prices also declined amid the prospect of increased Chinese export deliveries to the LME. Still, losses were limited by supply pressures, with production disruptions at several mines, including in China, while Middle East tensions have restricted Iranian ore shipments. Major zinc mines, including Antamina in Peru and Red Dog in Alaska, have seen output drop as they work through lower-grade sections of their ore bodies. LME warehouse inventories remain low relative to historical levels, while physical availability remains tight outside China. Sharply lower smelter treatment charges further signal tight concentrate supplies.
2026-09-11
Zinc Tops $4,000 Amid Supply Concerns
Zinc prices surpassed $4,000 per tonne for the first time since 2022, as the market faced significant supply pressures. Production disruptions at several mines, including in China, have raised concerns over concentrate availability, while heightened tensions in the Middle East have restricted Iranian ore shipments. Major zinc mines, including Antamina in Peru and Red Dog in Alaska, have seen output decline as they work through lower-grade sections of their ore bodies, while several producers have also reported weaker production. At the same time, LME warehouse inventories remain low relative to historical levels, while physical zinc availability remains particularly tight outside China. The tightness is also evident in sharply lower smelter treatment charges, signaling a shortage of zinc concentrate for processing. However, rising zinc exports from China could provide some relief to supply conditions in other major markets.
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