Australian Refinery Fire Sparked Zinc Ore Supply Concerns, Driving Zinc Prices Higher

Published: Apr 16, 2026 11:04

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[Australian Refinery Fire Sparks Zinc Ore Supply Concerns] According to SMM, a fire broke out at the Viva Energy refinery in Geelong, Victoria, Australia, at around 11 PM on April 15, causing a partial shutdown. The refinery is one of only two still operating in Australia, supplying approximately 50% of Victoria's fuel and 10% of the nation's total fuel demand. Given the uncertain production situation and Australia's long-term dependence on diesel imports, the incident sparked market concerns over Australian lead and zinc ore supply. Zinc prices briefly surged above $3,400/mt. Subsequent attention will focus on Australian zinc concentrates production and transportation conditions.

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.

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