SHANGHAI, Mar. 4 (SMM) – Slower investment and China’s environmental protection efforts will cause China’s annual growth of lead and zinc concentrate production to slow to 2% during the 13th Five Year Plan period (2016-2020), SMM predicts.

The China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association reports that fixed-asset investment in China in lead and zinc mining grew 21.98% in 2013, and slowed significantly to merely 3.6% January-November 2014. The slowing investment, combined with declining grades of raw ores, will keep concentrate output growth in check.

With the Chinese government paying greater attention to environmental protection, stricter requirements for mining operations will be introduced, also restricting the increase in lead and zinc concentrate production.

SMM expects China’s lead and zinc concentrate capacity to increase 2 million tpy during the five years.

 For news cooperation, please contact us by email: sallyzhang@smm.cn or service.en@smm.cn.