End of maintenance buoys Sep operating rate at zinc oxide plants

Published: Oct 15, 2018 10:56

Save

The rate came in at 54.79% in Sep, up 3.92 percentage points from Aug but down 3.21 percentage points from a year ago

SHANGHAI, Oct 15 (SMM) – Improved downstream orders and the end of maintenance allowed operating rates across domestic zinc oxide plants to rebound in September.

The rate came in at 54.79% in September, up 3.92 percentage points from August but down 3.21 percentage points from a year ago, SMM research found.

Though demand weakened from a year ago, downstream orders improved from August in the traditional high season of September. Some zinc oxide plants completed maintenance as environmental checks ended, and this also pulled up the operating rate.

The operating rate is likely to extend its increase by 0.39 percentage point to 55.19% in October, SMM estimated based on orders received and production schedules across plants.

Most zinc oxide plants plan to take breaks between one to three days this month. Production will resume gradually in Henan province after local environmental probes, SMM learned.

Operating rates Zinc oxide

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

Related News

1 hour ago

Growth in Zinc Concentrate Production Outside China Is Set to Slow Sharply in 2026?

After returning from the Chinese New Year holiday, Q4 reports from listed miners outside China have been released one after another recently. 2025 was a period of concentrated release of new capacity at mines outside China. What was the specific situation? What are the expectations for 2026? Let us analyze it by enterprise.

1 hour ago

7 hours ago

Fundamentals Coupled With Macro Factors Kept SHFE Zinc Hovering at Highs [SMM Zinc Morning Comment]

[SMM Zinc Morning Comment] Overnight, the most-traded SHFE zinc 2604 contract opened at 24,460 yuan/mt. In early trading, increased long positions pushed the price up to 24,500 yuan/mt, after which SHFE zinc fell to a low of 24,385 yuan/mt. Toward the close, bulls reduced positions and exited, sending SHFE zinc slightly lower. It finally closed up at 24,425 yuan/mt, up 10 yuan/mt, or 0.04%. Trading volume decreased to 31,673 lots, and open interest increased by 433 lots to 75,180 lots.

7 hours ago

Macro Uncertainty Persisted, and LME Zinc Maintained Wide Swings [SMM Morning Meeting Summary]

[SMM Morning Meeting Summary: Macro Uncertainty Still Persists, LME Zinc Maintains Wide Swings] Overnight, LME zinc opened at $3,336.5/mt. In early trading, LME zinc fluctuated upward and touched an intraday high of $3,386/mt. Prices then pulled back to a low of $3,323.5/mt, before edging up slightly near the close to finish at $3,342/mt, up $16/mt, or 0.48%. Trading volume decreased to 98,167 lots, and open interest fell by 254 lots to 216,000 lots.

7 hours ago