China Zinc Concentrate TCs to Hold Stable, Says SMM

SHANGHAI, Apr. 1 (SMM) – TCs of domestic zinc concentrate are expected to remain stable in the near term as supplies increase, says SMM. Mines that had suspended due to the cold weather will restart, helping ease raw material tightness at a few zinc smelters.

SMM understands a few zinc smelters plan to halt production for maintenance because of raw material shortages. Most mines in Inner Mongolia’s Chifeng resumed production, and this will increase domestic zinc concentrate supply.

Losses from imported ore narrowed 120 yuan to 1,030 yuan per tonne (zinc content) compared with domestic ore, SMM calculates. Domestic zinc smelters are unwilling to buy imported ore due to severe losses, leaving trading dull.

TCs of domestic zinc concentrate (50%) stabilized at 5,200-5,400 yuan per tonne (zinc content) this past week, and those for imported zinc concentrate (50%) were $110-130 per dry metric tonne (DMT), according to SMM data.

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