Tianjin Zinc: Zinc prices consolidate, downstream buys small volumes [SMM Midday Review]

Published: Aug 20, 2026 11:58
[ Tianjin Zinc: Zinc Prices Consolidate, Downstream Engages in Small-Scale Pricing ] In Tianjin market, #0 zinc ingot mainstream transactions were at 25,170~25,350 yuan/mt, Zijin transactions were at 25,340~25,430 yuan/mt, #1 zinc ingot transactions were around 25,100~25,290 yuan/mt. Zijin was quoted at a premium of around 50 yuan/mt against the 2609 contract, Huzin was quoted at 26,595 yuan/mt, #0 zinc ingot was quoted at a discount of 30~120 yuan/mt against the 2609 contract, and Tianjin market was quoted at a discount of around 65 yuan/mt against Shanghai market.

SMM, August 20: In the Tianjin market, #0 zinc ingot transactions were mainly done at 25,170-25,350 yuan/mt, Zijin brand traded at 25,340-25,430 yuan/mt, #1 zinc ingot traded near 25,100-25,290 yuan/mt, Zijin was offered at a premium of 50 yuan/mt against the 2609 contract, Huxin brand was quoted at 26,595 yuan/mt, #0 zinc ingot was quoted at a discount of 30-120 yuan/mt against the 2609 contract, Tianjin market quotes were at a discount of 65 yuan/mt against Shanghai. As of the morning session close, the high-end brand Zijin was at a premium of around 50 yuan/mt against the 2609 contract, Xinzi brand was quoted at a discount of 40-65 yuan/mt against the 2609 contract. Today, the purchasing sentiment for refined zinc in Tianjin region was 1.88, and the shipment sentiment was 2.59. Zinc prices consolidated, with futures below the average price some downstream buyers made small purchases at fixed prices, while most opted for back-pricing, actual transactions were limited, traders' shipment premiums held steady, and overall market transactions improved slightly from the previous day.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

Images in this article contain AI-translated captions for reference only.

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Tianjin Zinc: Zinc prices consolidate, downstream buys small volumes [SMM Midday Review] - Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)