Exclusive: China's refined zinc output fell 2.02% on the month to 542,000 mt in January

Published: Feb 08, 2021 11:20 (GMT+8)
China's refined zinc output stood at 542,000 mt in January, falling 11,200 mt or down 2.02% on month and up 2.6% on year.

SHANGHAI, Feb 8 (SMM) – China's refined zinc output stood at 542,000 mt in January, falling 11,200 mt or down 2.02% on month and up 2.6% on year. Zinc smelters produced 78,600 mt of zinc alloy in January, basically flat from the previous month. Among them, mineral zinc output stood at 435,000 mt in January.

SMM survey showed that domestic refined zinc output decreased slightly more than expectations in January. The decline in domestic TCs for 50-grade zinc concentrates slowed in January. The main reason was that zinc prices fell from a high level and smelters' profits shrank severely. Therefore, zinc smelters in some areas lowered their production plans, while smelters in Hunan stopped production during the CNY ahead of schedule. The reduction is mainly concentrated in the routine maintenance of domestic smelters.

China's refined zinc output is expected to decrease 64,000 mt to 547,200 mt in January as the number of natural monthly days in February decreased by 3 days from the previous month, domestic small smelting companies suspended production for the CNY holiday, and some domestic refineries have regular maintenance during the CNY.

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 for 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
Data: SHFE, DCE market movement (Oct 15)
1 hour ago
Data: SHFE, DCE market movement (Oct 15)
Read More
Data: SHFE, DCE market movement (Oct 15)
Data: SHFE, DCE market movement (Oct 15)
The following table shows the ferrous and nonferrous metals movement on the SHFE and DCE on 15 Oct , 2026
1 hour ago
【Flash | TOP Nanometal Discontinues Indium Tin Oxide Film Production and Converts Equipment to Sputtered Copper】
1 hour ago
【Flash | TOP Nanometal Discontinues Indium Tin Oxide Film Production and Converts Equipment to Sputtered Copper】
Read More
【Flash | TOP Nanometal Discontinues Indium Tin Oxide Film Production and Converts Equipment to Sputtered Copper】
【Flash | TOP Nanometal Discontinues Indium Tin Oxide Film Production and Converts Equipment to Sputtered Copper】
TOP Nanometal Corporation, a Taiwan-based roll-to-roll vacuum sputtering manufacturer, has discontinued production of Indium Tin Oxide transparent conductive film with immediate effect. The company will convert its former Indium Tin Oxide equipment entirely to high-end sputtered-copper production, focusing on adhesive-free Flexible Copper Clad Laminate, copper-coated polyester film for transparent light-emitting-diode displays and thin copper films for flexible electrodes. TOP Nanometal attributed the decision to intensifying competition and narrowing profit margins in the Indium Tin Oxide film market, while customer demand and profitability were stronger in sputtered-copper products. SMM believes the closure shows that conventional Indium Tin Oxide film faces growing cost and profitability competition from copper-based conductive materials in certain flexible-electronics and transparent-display applications. The conversion will reduce the company’s demand for Indium Tin Oxide targets and indium feedstock, although its previous film capacity, output, target purchases and indium consumption were not disclosed.
1 hour ago
【Flash | JX Advanced Metals Plans to Raise Indium Phosphide Substrate Capacity by Seven to Ten Times】
1 hour ago
【Flash | JX Advanced Metals Plans to Raise Indium Phosphide Substrate Capacity by Seven to Ten Times】
Read More
【Flash | JX Advanced Metals Plans to Raise Indium Phosphide Substrate Capacity by Seven to Ten Times】
【Flash | JX Advanced Metals Plans to Raise Indium Phosphide Substrate Capacity by Seven to Ten Times】
JX Advanced Metals Corporation plans to invest up to JPY120 billion over four years to substantially expand its production capacity for Indium Phosphide (InP) substrates used in optical communications. Including previously announced projects, the company’s cumulative investment in this area will reach approximately JPY150 billion. In addition to expanding its existing Isohara Works in Ibaraki Prefecture, JX Advanced Metals will establish additional capacity in the Hitachinaka area, targeting an increase in InP substrate production capacity to approximately seven to ten times its current level. The company said customer requests for additional supply associated with their own expansion plans have risen substantially and that demand is now growing beyond its previous expectations. It will also discuss price revisions with customers to establish a stable supply framework. SMM believes this is one of the clearest large-scale overseas InP substrate expansion plans announced to date and will generate substantial long-term demand for high-purity indium. Detailed construction phases, commissioning dates, wafer-size distribution and corresponding indium consumption were not disclosed.
1 hour ago