SHANGHAI, May 15 (SMM) - According to SMM survey, zinc downstream producers kept 5.9 days of raw material inventory on average in April, down 0.2 day MoM. The inventory changes by sector were as follows: -0.3 day to 6.3 days at galvanising producers; -0.1 day to 4.1 days at die-casting zinc alloy producers; -0.3 day to 10.4 days at zinc oxide producers.
Downstream enterprises became more cautious about placing orders after zinc prices rebounded recently. Raw materials inventories were gradually digested. Galvanising producers: They barely made purchases recently and relied on their raw material inventory. Die-casting zinc alloy producers: They expected zinc prices to fall and lowered their operating rates as the off-season is gradually setting in. Zinc oxide producers: Their operating rates were relatively low and they were cautious about purchasing amid high price coefficient of zinc slags.
