Salient Zinc Statistics

This table presents key statistics related to zinc production, consumption, trade, and pricing in the United States from 2019 through 2023, along with selected global production figures. The data encompass quantities of domestic zinc ore production, recoverable zinc, refined zinc output at primary and secondary smelters, exports and imports of zinc ores and refined zinc, stocks held by producers, consumers, and the government, as well as reported and apparent consumption. Additionally, it includes zinc prices on the North American market and the London Metal Exchange. This information is crucial for understanding the zinc supply chain, assessing market trends, and supporting economic and industrial decision-making, given zinc’s importance in galvanizing steel, alloy production, and other industrial applications.

Analysis of the data reveals that domestic contained zinc production fluctuated modestly, with a low of 704,000 metric tons in 2021 before rebounding to 766,000 metric tons in both 2022 and 2023. Recoverable zinc quantities followed a similar pattern, reaching 749,000 metric tons in 2023. Refined zinc production at primary smelters remained steady at 110,000 metric tons from 2020 through 2023, while secondary smelter output increased significantly from 15,000 metric tons in 2019 to 110,000 metric tons by 2021, maintaining that level through 2023. Exports of zinc ores and concentrates declined from 792,000 metric tons in 2019 to 641,000 metric tons in 2023, whereas imports of ores and concentrates showed variability, peaking at 18,400 metric tons in 2023. Refined zinc imports remained relatively stable around 700,000 metric tons annually. Reported stocks of refined zinc held by producers and consumers decreased to 105,000 metric tons at the end of 2023, down from 152,000 metric tons in 2019. Apparent consumption of refined zinc in the U.S. was 921,000 metric tons in 2023, slightly down from a peak of 974,000 metric tons in 2022. Zinc prices exhibited volatility, with North American prices rising from 110.79 cents per pound in 2020 to a high of 190.19 cents in 2022 before falling back to 151.26 cents in 2023. Globally, mine production showed a gradual decline from 12.8 million metric tons in