Zinc Concentrate TCs Continue to Decline, Awaiting May Pricing Results [SMM Zinc Concentrate Weekly Review]

Published: Apr 24, 2026 15:59

Save

[Zinc Concentrate TCs Continue to Fall, Awaiting May Pricing Results]: On a weekly basis, the SMM Zn50 domestic weekly average TC fell $200/mt Zn WoW to 1,050 yuan/mt Zn, while the SMM imported zinc concentrates index dropped $7.63/dmt WoW to -$36.13/dmt...

SMM April 24 News:

On a weekly basis, the SMM Zn50 domestic weekly TC average fell 200 yuan/mt Zn WoW to 1,050 yuan/mt Zn, while the SMM imported zinc concentrate index dropped $7.63/dmt WoW to -$36.13/dmt.

Domestic ore market. Sulphuric acid prices stayed high across multiple regions in China this week, prompting smelters to actively purchase raw materials to maintain normal production. According to SMM estimates, losses on China's imported zinc concentrates recently exceeded 2,000 yuan/mt Zn. Given the price advantage, domestic smelters focused on purchasing domestic zinc concentrates this week, and zinc concentrate TCs continued to decline in multiple regions across China.

Imported ore market. Offers for imported zinc concentrates remained low this week, with standard ore offered at around -$40/dmt and some high-grade zinc concentrates offered at -$50 to -$60/dmt. Overall transactions were limited during the week, and imported zinc concentrate TCs continued to fall.

According to the latest customs data, China's zinc concentrate imports in March 2026 totaled 545,600 mt in physical content, up 31.8% MoM from February (131,700 mt in physical content) and up 51.78% YoY. Cumulative zinc concentrate imports from January to March reached 1.5544 million mt in physical content, up 27.64% YoY.

Total SMM zinc concentrate inventories at China's main ports stood at 279,000 mt in physical content this week, down 12,100 mt in physical content WoW, with Fangchenggang contributing the largest share of the decline.

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 to learn 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

1 hour ago

Tug-of-War Between Longs and Shorts Continues, SHFE and LME Prices Fluctuate Upward [SMM Market Review - Weekly Price Review]

[Tug-of-War Between Longs and Shorts Continued, SHFE and LME Prices Fluctuated Upward] At the beginning of the week, boosted by optimistic sentiment over the easing of earlier geopolitical tensions, LME zinc edged up. Subsequently, as expectations for U.S.-Iran peace talks wavered and the Strait of Hormuz faced renewed restrictions, market concerns intensified, and LME zinc struggled to rise and continued to pull back.

1 hour ago

High Zinc Prices Weigh on Die-Casting Operating Rates [SMM Die-Casting Zinc Alloy Weekly Review]

[High Zinc Prices Weigh on Die-Casting Operating Rates] This week, the operating rate of die-casting zinc alloy producers came in at 50.75%, edging down 2.66 percentage points WoW. Inventory side, the price center of zinc continued to move higher this week, and the elevated price environment dampened downstream purchasing sentiment. Die-casting zinc alloy enterprises showed a notably reduced willingness to purchase, opting mainly to draw down existing stock, with little initiative to restock, and raw material levels declined.

1 hour ago

Zinc Oxide Production Edged Down [SMM Zinc Oxide Weekly Review]

[Zinc Oxide Operating Rate Edged Down] The operating rate of the zinc oxide industry was 59.42% this week, edging down 0.28 percentage points WoW. Zinc prices continued to rise during the week, with China's zinc prices running steadily above 24,000 yuan/mt. Enterprises were relatively cautious in raw material procurement, and inventory remained largely flat compared with last week.

1 hour ago