LONDON, July 22 -- The global refined zinc market was in a 241,000-metric-ton surplus in January to May, the World Bureau of Metal Statistics said Wednesday.

This was larger than the 210,000-ton surplus in all of 2009, the WBMS said.

Refined zinc demand was 556,000 tons higher in January to May than during the same period a year ago.

The WBMS didn't provide figures for refined zinc production and refined zinc consumption, but said they were "also higher than the very low levels recorded at the beginning of last year."