China Zinc Concentrate TCs to Continue Falling

SHANGHAI, Jul. 21  (SMM) – Domestic zinc concentrate TCs are expected to fall further in the near  term due to ore supply tightness, SMM says.

Mines and traders sold actively  recently due to high zinc prices, and this helped ease ore tightness some,  slowing declines in domestic zinc concentrate TCs, SMM understands. But many domestic  zinc smelters are still scrambling for ore against low raw material inventories.

Mines in Hunan’s Huayuan suspended  production as local explosive supplies were cut off due to inspections. Beneficiation  plants having raw material remain in production, though. When their mining  operation will restart is still unsure.

Losses from imported ore  expanded 200 yuan to 1,800 yuan per tonne (zinc content) compared with  domestic ore this past week, SMM calculates. Most zinc smelters refrained  from buying imported goods.

TCs of domestic zinc  concentrate (50%) were 4,800-5,100 yuan per tonne (zinc content) this past  week. Those for imported zinc concentrate (50%) were $85-110 per dry metric  tonne (DMT), with the low-end of $80.

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