LONDON, May 18 -- The global refined zinc market was in a 157,000-metric-ton surplus January to March of this year, International Lead and Zinc Study Group said Monday.

That compares with a 227,000-ton surplus the same period of 2009.

Total production in the first three months of 2010 was 3.049 million tons and total consumption was 2.892 million tons.

In the western world the refined zinc market was in a 32,000-ton surplus, the ILZSG said.