Supply-Demand Barometer: SMM Monthly Production Data for Secondary Zinc Oxide and Secondary Zinc Calcine Now Available[SMM Analysis]

SMM, December 31:
In recent years, the development of secondary zinc has drawn significant attention. The Government Work Report delivered at the 2025 National Two Sessions explicitly called for "strengthening the recycling of waste materials, vigorously promoting the use of recycled materials, and advancing the circular economy." Against this backdrop, market focus on secondary zinc raw materials has continued to intensify. Accordingly, SMM has introduced monthly production data for secondary zinc oxide and secondary zinc calcine to provide key dynamic references for the industry, helping market participants more accurately gauge supply-demand changes and optimize production and trade decisions.
I. How to Use SMM Monthly Production Data for Secondary Zinc Oxide and Secondary Zinc Calcine
Secondary zinc oxide and secondary zinc calcine are primarily recovered from secondary zinc-containing resources such as steel plant dust and scrap generated by the zinc processing industry. Meanwhile, secondary zinc calcine is also an intermediate product obtained through further roasting and purification of secondary zinc oxide. Both are core raw materials for secondary zinc smelting. Due to the scattered distribution of secondary zinc capacity and significant fluctuations in raw material supply, monthly production data can reflect short-term tightness or looseness in raw material supply, providing an indirect gauge of overall supply trends in the secondary zinc sector.
Market participants can assess the supply-demand balance of raw materials and anticipate price trends by comparing monthly production changes in secondary zinc oxide and secondary zinc calcine with the procurement demand of downstream enterprises, including those in the secondary zinc sector.

II. Significance of Using Monthly Production Data for Secondary Zinc Oxide and Secondary Zinc Calcine
Investment Institutions: By tracking monthly production fluctuations and combining them with capacity utilization rates of secondary zinc enterprises and end-use consumption data, investment institutions can more accurately evaluate the supply-demand pattern and investment opportunities in the secondary zinc market.
Secondary Zinc Smelters and Similar Enterprises: Adjust procurement plans based on changes in raw material production to avoid cost increases due to supply deficits or inventory devaluation caused by oversupply, thereby optimizing production pace and profit management.
Downstream Zinc Product Enterprises: Keep abreast of raw material supply dynamics, rationally plan procurement cycles, mitigate cost risks arising from raw material price fluctuations, and enhance supply chain stability.
The transparency of monthly production data will fill information gaps in key segments of the secondary zinc industry chain, aiding the industry in achieving more efficient resource allocation and risk management.

III. Release Schedule for SMM Monthly Production Data for Secondary Zinc Oxide and Secondary Zinc Calcine
The SMM monthly production data for secondary zinc oxide and secondary zinc calcine is updated on a monthly frequency. SMM will release the previous month's data and the current month's forecast on the fifth working day of each month.