Slow recovery from Covid-19 to send zinc concentrate in tight balance in 2020

SHANGHAI, Jun 5 (SMM) – Global zinc concentrate market is very likely to be in a tight balance in 2020, compared to a slender surplus last year, as the production recovery from the Covid-19 crisis progresses slowly.

New projects or expansion plans, on the other hand, are temporarily taken off the table as many experts warn that a full economic recovery from the pandemic could take years.

The anticipation of greater supply from global mining capacity recovery and expansion has put zinc prices on a downtrend since early 2018, but the global public health crisis looks set to slow down the mine supply increase.

Please find below a compilation of the progress of operations recovery from coronavirus shutdowns across major zinc mines beyond China as of June 3.