202

ZINC
(Data in thousand metric tons, zinc content, unless otherwise specified)

Domestic Production and Use: The estimated value of zinc mined in 2024 was $2.4 billion. Zinc was mined in
five States at six mining operations by five companies. Two smelter facilities, one primary and one secondary,
operated by two companies, accounted for most of the commercial-grade zinc metal produced in the United States.
Of the total reported zinc consumed, most was used to produce galvanized steel, followed by brass and bronze,
zinc-base alloys, and other uses.

Salient Statistics—United States: 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024e

Production:
Mine, zinc in concentrates 723 704 763 767 750
Refined zince, 1 180 220 220 220 220
Imports for consumption:
Ores and concentrates 3 13 5 18 15
Refined zinc 700 701 762 705 600
Exports:
Ores and concentrates 546 644 644 641 580
Refined zinc 2 13 8 3 2
Shipments from Government stockpile2 — — 1 NA NA
Consumption, apparent, refined zinc3 878 908 974 921 820
Price, average, cents per pound:
North American4 110.8 145.8 190.2 151.3 144
London Metal Exchange (LME), cash 102.7 136.3 158.1 120.1 126
Stocks, reported producer and consumer, refined zinc, yearend 120 115 134 120 120
Employment, number:
Mine and mill5 2,360 2,480 2,500 2,630 2,500
Smelter, primary 220 220 220 340 340
Net import reliance6 as a percentage of apparent consumption:
Ores and concentrates E E E E E
Refined zinc 79 76 77 76 73

Recycling: Refined zinc produced in the United States was recovered from secondary materials at both primary and
secondary smelters. These secondary materials included galvanizing residues and crude zinc oxide recovered from
electric arc furnace dust.

Import Sources (2020–23): Ores and concentrates: Peru, 42%; Turkey, 25%; Canada, 16%; Republic of Korea,
10%; and other, 7%. Refined metal: Canada, 59%; Mexico, 16%; Republic of Korea, 7%; Peru, 7%; and other, 11%.
Waste and scrap (gross weight): Canada, 64%; Mexico, 34%; and other, 2%. Combined total (includes gross weight
of waste and scrap): Canada, 58%; Mexico, 16%; Republic of Korea, 7%; Peru, 7%; and other, 12%.

Tariff: Item Number Normal Trade Relations

12–31–24
Zinc ores and concentrates, zinc content 2608.00.0030 Free.
Zinc oxide; zinc peroxide 2817.00.0000 Free.
Zinc sulfate 2833.29.4500 1.6% ad valorem.
Unwrought zinc, not alloyed:
Containing 99.99% or more zinc 7901.11.0000 1.5% ad valorem.
Containing less than 99.99% zinc:
Casting-grade 7901.12.1000 3% ad valorem.
Other 7901.12.5000 1.5% ad valorem.
Zinc alloys 7901.20.0000 3% ad valorem.
Zinc waste and scrap 7902.00.0000 Free.

Depletion Allowance: 22% (domestic), 14% (foreign).

Government Stockpile:7

FY 2024 FY 2025
Material Potential acquisitions Potential disposals Potential acquisitions Potential disposals
Zinc — 2.27 — 2.27

Prepared by Amy C. Tolcin [(703) 648–4940, [email protected]]

 203
ZINC
Events, Trends, and Issues: U.S. zinc mine production was estimated to have decreased slightly in 2024 compared
with that in 2023. There was no production at the Middle Tennessee zinc mines after operations were suspended in
November 2023. During the closure, drilling work was conducted to define additional zinc, germanium, and gallium
resources. Domestic refined production was estimated to have remained unchanged in 2024 compared with that in
the previous year, and apparent consumption decreased alongside an estimated 15% decrease in net imports of
refined zinc. Galvanized steel was the leading use of refined zinc in the United States. In September, the U.S.
Department of Commerce initiated antidumping and countervailing investigations on corrosion-resistant steel,
including galvanized steel, imported from 10 trading partners. In October, the U.S. International Trade Commission
preliminarily determined that U.S. industry was materially injured by these imports. Final determinations were
expected to be made in 2025.

The annual average LME cash price for Special High Grade (SHG) zinc was projected to decrease by 5% in 2024
from that in 2023. The monthly average North American premium to the LME cash price continued to decrease during
2024 as in 2023 but remained high compared with historical levels. According to the International Lead and Zinc
Study Group,8 estimated global refined zinc production in 2024 was forecast to decrease by 1.8% to 13.7 million tons
owing to a limited availability of concentrates, and estimated metal consumption was forecast to increase by 1.8% to
13.8 million tons, resulting in a production-to-consumption deficit of 164,000 tons.

World Mine Production and Reserves: Reserves for China, India, Kazakhstan, Peru, Russia, South Africa,
Sweden, and the United States were revised based on company and Government reports.

Mine production9 Reserves10

2023 2024e
United States 767 750 9,200
Australia 1,090 1,100 11
64,000
Bolivia 492 510 NA
China 4,060 4,000 46,000
India e
854 860 9,800
Kazakhstan 340 370 7,600
Mexico 584 700 14,000
Peru 1,470 1,300 20,000
Russia e
300 310 29,000
South Africa 198 120 5,900
Sweden 218 240 3,900
Other countries 1,690 1,700 25,000
World total (rounded) 12,100 12,000 230,000

World Resources:10 Identified zinc resources of the world are about 1.9 billion tons.

Substitutes: Aluminum and plastics substitute for galvanized sheet in automobiles; aluminum alloys, cadmium, paint, and
plastic coatings replace zinc coatings in other applications. Aluminum- and magnesium-base alloys are major substitutes
for zinc-base diecasting alloys. Many elements are substitutes for zinc in chemical, electronic, and pigment uses.

e
Estimated. E Net exporter. NA Not available. — Zero.
1
Includes primary and secondary zinc metal production.
2
Defined as changes in total inventory from prior yearend inventory. If negative, increase in inventory. Beginning in 2023, Government stock
changes no longer available.
3
Defined for 2020–22 as refined production + refined imports – refined exports ± adjustments for Government stock changes. Beginning in 2023,
Government stock changes no longer included.
4
Source: S&P Global Platts Metals Week, North American SHG zinc; based on the LME cash price plus premium.
5
Includes mine and mill employment at zinc-containing deposits. Excludes office workers. Source: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
6
Defined for 2020–22 as imports – exports ± adjustments for Government stock changes. Beginning in 2023, Government stock changes no longer
included.
7
See Appendix B for definitions.
8
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group, 2024, ILZSG session/forecasts: Lisbon, Portugal, International Lead and Zinc Study Group
press release, September 30, [4] p.
9
Zinc content of concentrates and direct shipping ores.
10
See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources.
11
For Australia, Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant or equivalent reserves were 21 million tons.

U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2025