Analysis: Low treatment charges bolster zinc prices

Published: Jan 26, 2018 12:23
Treatment charges (TC) of zinc concentrate were low in January and is expected to remain low in February due to shorter supply of zinc ores, according to SMM research.

SHANGHAI, Jan 26 (SMM)-Treatment charges (TC) of zinc concentrate were low in January and is expected to remain low in February due to a shorter supply of zinc ores, according to SMM research.

In Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi provinces, TC stood at 3,500 yuan/mt of metal content while it was below 3,500 yuan/mt of metal content in Guangxi and Yunnan.

SMM predicts TC will remain low before the Chinese New Year holiday given unchanged supply. Zinc prices are expected to be stable despite weak domestic consumption.

Zinc prices have seen recent highs, including a new, 10-year high at $3,481.50/mt on the LME, on positive fundamentals and bullish expectations. But LME inventory has dropped to an eight-year new low, with cancelled warrants risen to 80,000 mt. Spot premiums rose to $20/mt.


For editorial queries, please contact Daisy Tseng at daisy@smm.cn 
For more information on how to access our research reports, please email service.en@smm.cn 


 

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.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn
For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn
Analysis: Low treatment charges bolster zinc prices - Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)