SHANGHAI, Apr 12 (SMM) – Operating rates across Chinese manufacturers of zinc die-casting alloy came in at 51.89% in March, up 26.74 percentage points from February as producers returned from CNY breaks, SMM data showed on Thursday April 11. However, the rate slid 3.33 percentage points from March 2018. 

Producers of zinc die-casting alloy in Zhejiang province reported greater orders in March. Downstream sectors of hardware, lock, and zipper registered significant growth in output, and this pulled up demand. 

Downstream consumption from other areas and sectors declined from a year ago. Despite an overall improvement in consumption on the month, demand varied across regions and sectors. 

For April, orders will continue to expand in the high season, and this is likely to pull the operating rate across zinc die-casting alloy plants by 1.56 percentage points from March, to 53.45% this month. On a yearly basis, the rate is likely to stand 2.39 percentage points lower.