Canadian Minerals Yearbook (CMY) - 2008 - Zinc
Zinc
Printable version – PDF (251 kb)
Doug Panagapko
Prepared by the Minerals and Metals Sector,
Natural Resources Canada.
Telephone: 613-992-2667
E-mail: doug.panagapko@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
HIGHLIGHTS
- Canada is an important producer and exporter of zinc and zinc products. Zinc metal production in Canada dates from the early 1900s when the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada (now Teck Cominco Limited) started production at a small electrolytic zinc plant at Trail, British Columbia. Today, with a smelting capacity of 843 000 t/y from four metallurgical facilities located across the country, Canada produces roughly 7.0% of the world’s total supply of refined zinc.
- Canada’s newest producer, Xstrata’s Perseverance mine, reached commercial production.
- In response to declining zinc prices, four Canadian mines closed during the year. Declining industrial output in most regions of the world has been somewhat offset by continued moderate growth in China.
- Historically high metal inventories should keep zinc prices in the US55¢-65¢/lb range into 2010, when demand is expected to increase.
| World Data | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2008/07 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (000 t) | (% change) | |||
| Mine production | 10 444 | 11 129 | 11 755 | 5.6 |
| Refined production | 10 655 | 11 356 | 11 683 | 2.9 |
| Usage (consumption) | 10 971 | 11 310 | 11 481 | 1.6 |
| Refined balance | -317 | 46 | 202 | n.a. |
| Refined stocks at year-end (1) | 546 | 580 | 757 | n.a. |
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group.
n.a. Not applicable.
(1) Producer, consumer, and LME.
| Zinc Prices | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash (US¢/lb) | 148.27 | 147.10 | 85.00 |
| Cash (US$/t) | 3 268.81 | 3 259.90 | 1 874.70 |
| 3 months (US$/t) | 3 246.16 | 3 253.82 | 1 897.80 |
| 15 months (US$/t) | 2 816.03 | 3 011.90 | 1 943.46 |
| 27 months (US$/t) | 2 385.91 | 2 751.27 | 1 963.43 |
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group.
| Canadian Data | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2008/07 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (tonnes) | (% change) | |||
| Mine output (1) | 637 956 | 630 485 | 682 487 | 8.2 |
| Zinc refined production | 824 464 | 802 103 | 764 312 | -4.7 |
| Zinc domestic shipments | 179 189 | 171 655 | 162 621 | -5.3 |
| Zinc refined imports | 12 277 | 13 514 | 8 314 | -38.4 |
| Apparent zinc usage (2) | 191 466 | 185 169 | 170 935 | -7.7 |
Source: Natural Resources Canada.
(1) Zinc content of ores and concentrates produced. (2) Domestic shipments and imports.
INTRODUCTION
Zinc is a relative newcomer to the group of metals discovered and used by society. While the first use of copper pre-dates recorded history and the discovery of tin goes back 5000 years, the first recovery of metallic zinc came much later. The production of metallic zinc was first described in India around 1200 A.D. By 1374, zinc was recognized as a new metal, the eighth to be discovered at that time, and a limited amount of commercial zinc production was under way. Although brass-making had developed much earlier, the zinc in brass was obtained by treating zinc ore to produce zinc vapour, which combined with granulated copper under heat. From India, zinc production was introduced to China sometime around 1600 A.D. and then began to be exported to Europe.
The first full-scale zinc smelting operation outside of Asia started in Bristol, England, about 1743. By the beginning of the 19th century, zinc production was established on the continent of Europe, notably in Belgium and parts of Eastern Europe. In the latter half of the century, large zinc industries developed rapidly in the United States and Germany.
HISTORY OF ZINC MINING IN CANADA
Zinc production in Canada dates back to the First World War when the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada began operating a small electrolytic zinc plant at Trail, British Columbia, to help offset a critical wartime shortage of zinc in the United Kingdom. At that time, the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada and The Anaconda Copper Mining Company in Montana were pioneering the production of zinc in North America by the electrolytic method.
The ores used at Trail came from the Sullivan mine near Kimberley, B.C., but production was hampered because the complex lead-zinc-iron ore was difficult to treat using existing methods. In 1920, however, the differential flotation method was successfully applied to separate the Sullivan ore into a lead concentrate, a zinc concentrate, and an iron by-product. This marked the beginning of significant zinc production in Canada. Today, the Trail operations are the world’s largest fully integrated lead and zinc smelting and refining complex. Owned and operated by Teck Cominco Limited of Vancouver, the Trail facility has a zinc production capacity of 295 000 t/y.
In Manitoba, the discovery of significant zinc and copper ore with important quantities of gold in 1915 led to the development of the Flin Flon-Snow Lake mining camp, smelter complex, and dedicated power plant in the late 1920s. Since 1930, Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co. Limited, now a subsidiary of HudBay Minerals Inc., has owned and operated some 30 mines that have in turn fed the company’s metallurgical complex at Flin Flon. The Flin Flon smelter and refinery complex has undergone significant capital improvements since it first commenced operations in 1930 with the introduction of zinc pressure leach technology in the early 1990s and a new tank house in 2000 that expanded zinc production capacity to 118 000 t/y.
The Kidd Creek orebody near Timmins, Ontario, was discovered in 1963 and Texasgulf Inc. began open-pit mining the deposit in 1966. The Kidd Creek zinc plant started production in 1972. In 1983, Kidd Creek started up a zinc pressure leaching facility. The mine and plant continued operation under Falconbridge until 2006. Today, Xstrata Copper owns and operates the Kidd Creek complex with a zinc metal production capacity of 150 000 t/y.
With the discovery of significant zinc-bearing ores in the Matagami region of northern Quebec in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Noranda Inc. began looking at options to build an electrolytic zinc plant. Construction began at Valleyfield, Quebec, west of Montréal, in 1962 and Canadian Electrolytic Zinc (CEZ) was brought into production in 1963. Xstrata Zinc has a 25% interest in the CEZ refinery held through the Noranda Income Fund. Plant capacity has increased steadily from its original 64 000 t/y at the time of opening to 280 000 t/y today.
CANADIAN PRODUCTION FACILITIES
In 2008, Canadian mines produced 682 487 t of zinc in concentrate, compared to 630 485 t in 2007, an 8.2% increase (Table 1). Refined metal production for 2008 was 764 312 t, compared to 802 103 t in 2007, a decrease of 4.7%. Table 4 shows zinc production and exports for the period 1988-2008.
Zinc is produced at eleven mines located in seven provinces (Figure 1). During the year, three new zinc mines started production. The trend in total Canadian zinc mine production for the period 1998-2008 is shown in Figure 2. Zinc metal is produced from domestic and foreign concentrates at four metallurgical sites in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia (Table 8). Refined zinc metal production for the period 1998-2008 is shown in Figure 3. Zinc oxide is produced at one plant located in Brampton, Ontario. Statistics on exports and imports of zinc concentrates, metal, and semi-fabricated products are provided in Table 2.
The following is a summary of Canadian zinc mines and metal production facilities in operation during 2008.
Newfoundland and Labrador
The Duck Pond mine, owned by Teck Cominco Limited, is located 90 km south of Buchans. During 2008, the mine produced 445 000 t of ore grading 4.9% zinc. A total of 19 000 t of zinc in concentrate was produced during the year (2008 Annual Report).
Nova Scotia
Acadian Mining Corporation commenced production at the Scotia open-pit mine in May 2007. The mine is situated at Gays River, 65 km north of Halifax. Metal production in 2008 was 27 729 t of zinc concentrate and 8535 t of lead concentrate (MD&A, December 2008). By year-end, the company had reduced staff at the mine in response to the dramatic drop in zinc and lead prices.
New Brunswick
Xstrata Zinc Canada owns the Brunswick zinc and lead mine located 21 km southwest of Bathurst. In 2008, the mine produced 3.31 Mt of ore, down from 3.43 Mt in 2007, resulting in the production of 242 478 t of zinc in concentrate, down from 251 795 t in 2007 (Production Report, December 2008). The mine is expected to close in 2010 or 2011 due to the depletion of ore reserves.
Blue Note Mining Inc. officially re-opened the Caribou and Restigouche lead-zinc mines located west of Bathurst in June 2008. In October, the company announced plans to close both operations due to falling zinc and lead prices. The Caribou concentrator milled 819 452 t of ore grading 5.26% zinc and 2.57% lead in 2008 (Fourth Quarter 2008 Report). Total metal production was 38 000 t of zinc in concentrate and 19 700 t of lead in concentrate.
Quebec
Zinc is produced at the LaRonde mine, owned by Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd; the mine is situated about 60 km west of Val-d’Or. It is a gold-silver-copper-zinc orebody comprising massive to disseminated sulphide lenses within a regional shear zone. In 2008, the mine produced 65 753 t of zinc in concentrate from 2.63 Mt of ore milled at a grade of 3.27% zinc, whereas in 2007 the mine produced 71 577 t from 2.67 Mt of ore milled (2008 Annual Report).
Xstrata Zinc Canada commenced commercial mining of the Perseverance deposit at Matagami in July 2008. The capital cost of the project was $130 million. The mine is accessed by ramp and the ore is being processed at Xstrata’s 2600-t/d Matagami mill. During the year, the mine produced 511 000 t of ore resulting in the production of 60 265 t of zinc in concentrate. At full production, the mine is expected to produce about 115 000 t/y of zinc in concentrate over a five-year mine life.
The Langlois mine owned by Breakwater Resources Ltd., which opened in July 2007, was put on care and maintenance in November 2008. The mine is located 213 km northeast of Val-d’Or. Production in 2008 was 514 444 t milled at an average grade of 8.1% zinc, producing 38 620 t of zinc in concentrate, up from 28 327 t in 2007.
The CEZ zinc plant is located in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, just west of Montréal, and is owned by the Noranda Income Fund. Xstrata plc owns 25% of the fund units. The rated capacity of the plant is 280 000 t of refined zinc. In 2008, the plant produced 264 231 t of zinc metal from 508 000 t of zinc concentrate processed, compared to 262 133 t of zinc metal produced in 2007. The higher production was attributed to higher zinc concentrate grades and higher recoveries.
Ontario
Xstrata Copper operates the Kidd Creek copper-zinc mine, located about 25 km north of Timmins, as well as a copper smelter and zinc hydrometallurgical plant. The orebody was discovered in 1963 and open-pit mining commenced in 1966. Mining was later converted to underground and the mine is presently developed to a depth of 2773 m (9100 ft). The Kidd Creek mine produced 2.35 Mt of ore containing 116 300 t of zinc in concentrate in 2008.
The zinc hydrometallurgical plant located at Hoyle, 25 km east of Timmins, has a capacity of 150 000 t/y. In 2008, the plant produced 121 193 t of refined zinc, down from 142 549 t in 2007 (Production Report, December 2008). Metal production was negatively affected by a six-week labour dispute.
HudBay Minerals Inc. owns a zinc oxide production facility in Brampton. It is the third largest producer of zinc oxide in North America with a production capacity of 45 000 t/y. Production for 2008 was 33 982 t (consuming 26 155 t of zinc metal).
Manitoba
HudBay Minerals Inc. operates an integrated mining and smelting business through its wholly owned subsidiary, Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co., Limited (HBMS). It operate the 777 and Trout Lake mines and a smelter complex in Flin Flon, situated about 630 km northwest of Winnipeg. It also owns the Chisel North mine, located in Snow Lake 120 km east of Flin Flon. In addition, the company owns the Balmat mine in northern New York state, which closed in August due to higher-than-expected operating costs and falling zinc prices. The Flin Flon concentrator produced 155 132 t of zinc concentrates from ore mined at 777 and Trout Lake. The Snow Lake concentrator produced 43 812 t of zinc concentrates from ore mined at the Chisel North mine (2008 Year-End MD&A). The 777 mine produced 1.47 Mt of ore grading 4.37% zinc and 2.61% copper in 2008 while the Trout Lake mine produced 776 205 t of ore grading 3.7% zinc and 1.93% copper. The Chisel North mine produced 325 156 t of ore grading 7.4% zinc.
The zinc hydrometallurgical plant is situated at Flin Flon and employs two-stage pressure leaching and electrolysis technology to produce special high grade zinc. It has an annual capacity of 118 000 t of refined zinc metal. The plant produced 112 955 t of refined zinc in 2008, up from 110 520 t in 2007. This total can be broken down to 102 993 t from HudBay concentrates and 9962 t from purchased concentrates. Taking into account metal derived from the Balmat mine, the company produced 125 323 t of refined zinc in 2008, down slightly from 2007.
British Columbia
The Myra Falls zinc mine is owned and operated by Breakwater Resources Ltd. It is located within Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, about 65 km southwest of Campbell River. On October 28, the company announced the temporary closure of the mine due to economic and market conditions. Production in 2008 was 35 762 t of zinc in concentrate (up from 29 845 t in 2007) from 592 072 t of ore milled.
The integrated zinc and lead smelting and refining complex at Trail, owned by Teck Cominco Limited, has a capacity of 295 000 t/y of refined zinc. The complex produces refined zinc and lead, as well as gold, silver, cadmium, germanium, indium, sulphuric acid, and fertilizers. In 2008, production at Trail was 269 900 t of zinc, down from 291 900 t in 2007 (Fourth Quarter 2008 Report). In November, the company announced a reduction in zinc production of 4000-5000 t per month in response to poor market conditions.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Slam Resources Ltd. continues to explore its Nash Creek property located 50 km northwest of Bathurst, New Brunswick. The deposit consists of massive sulphides hosted in a bi-modal volcanic-sedimentary sequence, possibly of the SEDEX (sedimentary exhalative) type. A National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) report issued in July 2007 defined indicated resources of 3.24 Mt grading 4.67% zinc and 0.80% lead, and inferred resources of 2.69 Mt grading 2.65% zinc and 0.77% lead. The company expects to complete a new resource calculation that would include all drilling done to the end of 2008. The deposit has a strike length of 1400 m, extends over 300 m, and is up to 45 m thick.
Virginia Mines Inc. continues to obtain excellent drill results from its 100%-owned Coulon property situated 680 km northeast of Matagami, Quebec. Virginia purchased Breakwater’s 50% interest in the property in December. Several lenses of copper-zinc mineralization have been delineated thus far. Of note in recent drilling is the further delineation of the 08 Lens, which has been extended to a vertical depth of at least 500 m and has returned intersections such as 5.7 m grading 12.0% zinc and 0.86% copper. In addition, drilling of the 9-25 Lens returned 6.3% zinc and 1.5% copper over 11.6 m at a vertical depth of over 600 m. This lens extends vertically for over 450 m and 275 m laterally.
Xstrata Zinc Canada and Donner Metals Ltd. continue to obtain excellent results from drilling at the Bracemac-McLeod deposit near Matagami, Quebec. The property is located only 5 km from Xstrata’s 2600-t/d Matagami Lake mill complex. The mill is currently processing ore from Xstrata’s Perseverance mine. A series of stacked massive sulphide lenses are being tested that occur along a marker horizon that was the site of 10 past producing mines in the Matagami camp, including the large Matagami Lake mine, which produced 25.6 Mt at 8.2% zinc and 0.56% copper. Xstrata is conducting a scoping study on the deposit.
Xstrata Copper announced an investment of $121 million to deepen the underground Kidd Creek mine in Timmins, Ontario, from the present base of Mine D at 9100 ft to 9500 ft, extending the mine life to 2017. This expansion will provide an additional 3.4 Mt at a grade of 1.48% copper, 6.22% zinc, 0.28% lead, and 80 g/t silver.
HudBay Minerals Inc. released a NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate for its Lalor Lake deposit, located approximately 3 km from the company’s Chisel North mine near Snow Lake, Manitoba. The discovery hole intersected 23.9 m grading 13.2% zinc and 0.19% copper. The resource estimate is based upon the drilling of 40 drill holes. The deposit is estimated to contain 3.4 Mt of indicated resources at 8.82% zinc and 13.2 Mt of inferred resources at 8.19% zinc. The mineralization is found in a series of stacked lenses of zinc-rich polymetallic sulphides between 570 m and 1170 m in depth. Recent drill results indicate the presence of gold-rich horizons within the deposit.
Redcorp Ventures Ltd. continued to work on infrastructure improvements at its Tulsequah Chief base-metal deposit in northwestern British Columbia. The company is proceeding with finalization of key permitting functions. A NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate shows 5.37 Mt of probable reserves grading 1.40% copper, 6.33% zinc, 1.20% lead, and 93 g/t silver. The deposit also contains indicated resources of 5.81 Mt grading 1.43% copper, 6.58% zinc, 1.25% lead, and 97 g/t silver.
Selwyn Resources Ltd. continues to explore its large land position in the Howard’s Pass area of east-central Yukon. The company reports a new global mineral resource inventory comprising 154.3 Mt of indicated resources grading 5.35% zinc and 1.86% lead, and 231.5 Mt of inferred resources at 4.54% zinc and 1.42% lead (Third Quarter 2008 Report). Contained within this global resource is an underground target mineral resource estimate for four separate deposits that contain 16.1 Mt of indicated resources grading 10.25% zinc and 4.23% lead, and 23.2 Mt of inferred resources at 8.8% zinc and 2.8% lead. The company continues to work on various permitting and consultative issues.
In July, Yukon Zinc Corporation was purchased by Jinduicheng Molybdenum Group Ltd. and Northwest Nonferrous International Investment Company Ltd. after receiving approval from the company’s shareholders and from the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Jinduicheng is a large molybdenum mining and smelting enterprise based in Shaanxi Province, China. Northwest Nonferrous, based in Xian City, Shaanxi Province, China, is a state-owned mining and exploration company. Yukon Zinc’s main asset is the Wolverine zinc deposit located 175 km northwest of Watson Lake in the Yukon. The volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposit contains proven and probable reserves of 5.15 Mt grading 9.71% zinc, 0.93% copper, 1.26% lead, 284.2 g/t silver, and 1.36 g/t gold. Once in production at a daily rate of 1700 t, the mine is expected to produce 53 400 t of zinc in concentrate and 5860 t of lead in concentrate annually over a 10-year mine life.
Canadian Zinc Corporation carried out permitting activities to advance its Prairie Creek project located in the western Northwest Territories. The property consists of a partially developed mine with a 1000-t/d mill and related infrastructure. Published resources include measured and indicated resources of 5.84 Mt grading 10.7% zinc, 9.9% lead, and 161 g/t silver, as well as inferred resources of 5.5 Mt at 13.5% zinc, 11.43% lead, and 215 g/t silver (October 2007 Technical Report). These resources are contained within a main quartz vein, stockwork, and stratabound zones. The project is environmentally sensitive as it lies within the Nahanni River watershed and is close to the Nahanni National Park Reserve. During the year, the company signed memoranda of understanding with two First Nations and with Parks Canada with the intent of advancing the project to a production decision.
Tamerlane Ventures Inc. is proceeding with a development plan for its Pine Point area lead-zinc properties in the Northwest Territories. The company recently issued a NI 43-101 reserve report that has calculated proven and probable reserves of 7.8 Mt grading 6.16% zinc and 3.01% lead, as well as measured and indicated resources of 8.0 Mt grading 2.26% zinc and 1.13% lead. The reserves are contained within six separate deposits over a distance of 13 km.
Sabina Silver Corporation owns the Hackett River silver-zinc deposit located in western Nunavut. A 2007 preliminary economic assessment announced an open-pit indicated resource of 25.6 Mt grading 4.07% zinc, 0.58% lead, and 126.4 g/t silver, and an inferred resource of 3.4 Mt grading 2.57% zinc, 0.37% lead, and 99.7 g/t silver. The company is proceeding with water licence and other permits as part of the environmental assessment process. The economic assessment estimates an operating mine could produce 72 000 t/y of zinc, 8100 t/y of lead, and 12.4 million oz/y of silver over a 13-year mine life at a milling rate of 10 000 t/d. The deposit is located 75 km from tidewater and would require a road and port to be built to supply the mine and ship out concentrates.
WORLD PRODUCTION
According to the International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG), world zinc mine production for 2008 was 11.76 Mt, up from 11.14 Mt the previous year, with the main increases coming from Bolivia, Peru, China, and Canada (Table 5). World refined zinc metal production was 11.69 Mt, up from 11.35 Mt in 2007, mostly due to increases in China and India (Table 6). In terms of mine production, Canada ranked fifth behind China, Peru, Australia, and the United States. The top five zinc metal-producing countries in 2008 were China, Canada, South Korea, India, and Japan. The top five zinc mining companies are Xstrata, Teck Cominco, Glencore, Zinifex, and Hindustan Zinc, which together account for 40% of world contained metal production. The top five zinc mines in terms of zinc in concentrate production in 2008 were: Red Dog in Alaska (515 000 t), Century in Australia (514 000 t), Rampura Agucha in India (489 000 t), Mt Isa in Australia (283 000 t), and Antamina in Peru (247 000 t). Figure 4 shows world zinc mine production for the period 2006-08 while Figure 5 shows refined metal production for the same period. The growth in mine output from China was 4.5% in 2008, compared to 18.3% for 2007.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
OZ Minerals was formed in 2008 by the merger of Oxiana Limited and Zinifex Limited. The company has operating mines in Australia and Asia, and has an extensive portfolio of mineral prorperties around the world. In Canada, the company owns several zinc deposits, including the Izok Lake, High Lake and Hood River deposits, all located in the western Northwest Territories. The Izok Lake deposit contains indicated resources of 14.4 Mt at a grade of 12.9% zinc, 2.5% copper, and 1.3% lead. The High Lake deposit has an indicated resource of 17.3 Mt at 3.4% zinc, 2.3% copper, 0.3% lead, and 76 g/t silver.
Due to the rapidly declining zinc prices, several mining operations were closed during the year, including:
- Lennard Shelf in Western Australia (Teck, Xstrata);
- Pend Oreille in Washington State, United States (Teck);
- Gordonsville in Tennessee, United States (Strategic Resource Acquisition Corp.);
- Balmat in New York, United States (HudBay Minerals Ltd.);
- Aljustrel in Portugal (Lundin Mining); and
- the Coy, Young and Immel mines in Tennessee, United States (East Tennessee Zinc Company) (announced for 2009 closure).
Production cuts have also been announced at numerous operating mines, notably:
- Perilya Resources will cut output at its Broken Hill, Australia, mining complex resulting in a loss of 35 000 t/y of zinc;
- OZ Minerals will cut zinc production at its Golden Grove, Australia, mine by 55 000 t/y in 2009 and reduce production by 20 000 t/y at its Century mine in Australia; and
- Lundin Mining plans to cease zinc production at the Neves-Corvo copper-zinc mine in Portugal, representing 26 000 t/y of zinc.
Farallon Resources Ltd. is proceeding with the development of its G-9 project at Campo Morado, Mexico, with full production at a rate of 1500 t/d slated for early 2009. The mine is scheduled to produce 26 500 t of zinc, 1300 t of lead, and 1.5 million oz of silver per year. The deposit contains measured and indicated resources of 2.18 Mt grading 11.0% zinc, 1.32% lead, and 209.2 g/t silver, as well as inferred resources of 1.60 Mt grading 9.0% zinc, 1.24% lead, and 178.0 g/t silver using a 5% zinc cut-off.
Australia's Aim Resources has suspended its Perkoa zinc project in Burkina Faso, West Africa. The deposit contains reserves of 6.3 Mt grading 14.5% zinc.
Terramin Australia Limited commenced production at its Angas base-metal mine located 60 km south of Adelaide. The mine is expected to produce 45 000 t/y of zinc concentrates and 16 000 t/y of copper-lead concentrates.
In December, Perilya Limited entered into an agreement and strategic partnership with Shenzhen Zhongjin Lingnan Nonfemet Co. wherein Zhongjin would purchase shares in Perilya, raising A$45 million. Perilya owns the historic Broken Hill lead-zinc mining complex in New South Wales.
Strategic Resource Acquisition Corp. announced the closure of the Gordonsville mine in Tennessee in October due to declining metal prices and a lack of sufficient financing. The mid-Tennessee mining complex included the former Gordonsville, Elmwood, and Cumberland mines, and had begun operation in April 2008. Production levels were expected to reach 3000 t/d from the Gordonsville and Cumberland mines. The company was also exploring the possibility of installing a circuit to recover valuable germanium and gallium, which it was selling to a third party in the form of a leachate.
USES
The greatest use for zinc is as a coating for iron and steel products to make them resistant to rust and corrosion. The application of a zinc coating, known as galvanizing, is accomplished electrolytically or by hot-dip methods. Galvanizing accounts for about 58% of the worldwide use of zinc.
The most commonly galvanized products are sheet and strip steel, tube and pipe, and wire and wire rope. The automobile industry is the largest user of galvanized steel. The desire to reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency has led to the increased use of galvanized steel by the automotive industry to protect the thinner gauges of steel from corrosion. Both hot-dipped and electro-galvanized steel are used, the thicker coating of hot-dipped steel giving more corrosion protection to unexposed surfaces and the thinner coating of electro-galvanized steel providing a smoother finish for exposed, painted surfaces.
Galvanized sheet and strip steel are also widely used by the construction industry for roofing and siding, and for heating and ventilation ducts, as well as for many other applications. Nails and other building materials are often hot-dip galvanized. Zinc and zinc-aluminum thermally sprayed coatings are used for the long-term corrosion protection of large steel structures such as bridges and hydro-electric transmission towers.
Another important use of zinc is in the manufacture of a vast range of die-cast products. Because it has a relatively low melting point and is very fluid, zinc diecast is easy to pour when melted. Therefore, it is well suited to rapid, assembly-line die-casting, particularly to produce small and intricate shapes.
A major use of die castings is in the automobile industry as trim pieces, grills, door and window handles, carburetors, pumps, and other components. However, with the trend toward lighter, more energy-efficient cars, zinc demand for this purpose has declined in recent years. Other familiar zinc die castings include small electrical appliances, business machines and other light equipment, tools, and toys.
Zinc is also an essential ingredient of brass, which is essentially an alloy of copper and zinc with the proportion of zinc ranging from 5 to 40%. The zinc brasses have good physical, electrical, and thermal properties, and are corrosion resistant. They are used in plumbing, heat exchange equipment, and a wide range of decorative hardware, to name a few applications. Rolled zinc metal is a basic component in dry-cell batteries, and zinc oxide is used as a catalyst in the manufacture of rubber and as a pigment in white paint. It is also used in agricultural products, cosmetics, and medicinal products.
Table 7 and Figure 6 show a breakdown of worldwide zinc use by geographic region for the period 2006-08, according to data from the ILZSG. Of note, zinc consumption in China increased 11.5% for the current year, compared to a 15.5% increase for 2007, while consumption in Europe declined by 7.9% in 2008. Table 3 and Figure 7 show a breakdown of zinc use in Canada for the period 2005-07. In Figure 7, other products include rolled and ribbon zinc and zinc oxides. The overall trend in total world zinc consumption for the period 1992-2008 is shown in Figure 8.
HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT
Zinc plays an important role as a micro-nutrient in the development and health of a variety of plants and animals. In humans, zinc is a key element in the function of more than 200 enzymes, for the stabilization of DNA and the expression of genes, and for the transfer of nerve signals.
The human body contains 2-3 g of zinc. The recommended daily zinc intake is 10 mg for children, 12 mg for adult women, and 15 mg for adult men. Daily intake is not only dependent on food, but also on gender, age, and general health status. Growing infants, children, adolescents, women in pregnancy, and the elderly have a higher zinc requirement.
Food is the primary source of zinc for humans with only a small part coming from drinking water. Some dietary sources of zinc include red meat, nuts, poultry, and milk products. Zinc deficiency is the most common micro-nutrient deficiency affecting many agricultural areas in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The World Health Organization attributes 800 000 deaths worldwide each year to zinc deficiency. Zinc in fertilizers can significantly enhance the quality and yield of crops.
INTERNATIONAL LEAD AND ZINC STUDY GROUP
The International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) is an intergovernmental organization that regularly brings together 30 member countries in an international forum to exchange information on lead and zinc. Particular attention is given to providing regular and frequent information on supply, demand, and the outlook for lead and zinc prices and markets.
The Study Group, headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, represents most of the world’s major lead- and zinc-producing and using nations. The Group has an extensive information-gathering and dissemination role, and acts as an effective mechanism for increasing market transparency related to the production, use, and trade of lead and zinc. The Group is also an important forum for communication among governments, among industry, and between governments and industry. It holds a general session each year in October.
More information about the Group’s activities can be obtained from its web site at www.ilzsg.org/static/home.aspx.
PRICES AND STOCKS
Figure 9 shows average monthly London Metal Exchange (LME) settlement prices for the period 2004-08, along with zinc metal stocks. Total stocks, comprising producers, consumers, and LME stocks, stood at 757 000 t at the end of 2008. Producer and consumer stocks ended the year at 504 000 t, up 6% from the previous year. LME metal stocks increased substantially from 89 000 t at the end of 2007 to 253 000 t in December 2008. Monthly average settlement prices on the LME during 2008 decreased substantially from US$2342/t to US$1102/t. Annual average zinc prices for 1987-2008 are shown in Figure 10. Between October 1991 and June 2003, there was little fluctuation in price with an average for the period of US$1036/t (US$0.47/lb). Figure 11 shows the LME daily official cash settlement prices for 2008. The price started the year at US$1.08/lb, reached a high on March 6 of US$1.28/lb, and ended the year at US$0.51/lb. Table 9 shows the monthly average zinc price for 2007 and 2008. The yearly average price dropped 42% from the 2007 level.
OUTLOOK
There were numerous production cutbacks and closures of zinc mines during the second half of 2008. It is expected that, with prices still near historic lows, more production cuts may be announced during 2009. As well, zinc inventories are still on the rise and demand remains soft. Prices will not show any long-term signs of recovery until metal stocks are reduced, which requires demand to increase. Difficulties in the automobile and construction sectors, which account for over 70% of zinc use, will not be resolved until probably 2010.
The ILZSG predicts that global zinc mine output for 2009 will be 11.08 Mt, a 6% reduction from the previous year. Smelters have responded to low prices by announcing reductions in output for 2009. Refined metal production, according to the ILZSG, should be 11.18 Mt, a decrease of 4%. The ILZSG expects that refined zinc metal usage will be 10.92 Mt in 2009, a decline of 4.9%. As a result of increased supply, there is expected to be a net surplus of 260 000 t of zinc in 2009, which should further weaken prices.
Zinc prices are expected to vary within the US$1100-$1550/t (US$0.50-$0.70/lb) range during 2009. If world metal stocks continue to be reduced, and if miners and smelters continue to operate at below capacity, prices in 2010 could recover to the US$1750/t (US$0.80/lb) range.
OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON ZINC
American Galvanizers Association
www.galvanizeit.org
American Zinc Association
www.zinc.org
International Zinc Association
www.iza.com
London Metal Exchange
www.lme.co.uk
U.S. Geological Survey
http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/zinc/
World Bureau of Metal Statistics
www.world-bureau.com
Zinc Information Centre
www.zincinfocentre.org
North American Die Casting Association
www.diecasting.org
Notes: (1) For definitions and valuation of mineral production, shipments and trade, please refer to Chapter 58. (2) Information in this review was current as of May 29, 2009. (3) This and other reviews, including previous editions, are available on the Internet at www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/mms-smm/busi-indu/cmy-amc/com-eng.htm.
Note to Readers
The intent of this document is to provide general information and to elicit discussion. It is not intended as a reference, guide or suggestion to be used in trading, investment, or other commercial activities. The author and Natural Resources Canada make no warranty of any kind with respect to the content and accept no liability, either incidental, consequential, financial or otherwise, arising from the use of this document.
| Canada | United States | EU | Japan | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Item No. | Description | MFN | GPT | USA | Canada | Conventional Rate (1) | WTO (2) |
| 2603.00.30 | Copper ores and concentrates: zinc content | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| 2607.00.30 | Lead ores and concentrates: zinc content | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| 2608.00.30 | Zinc ores and concentrates: zinc content | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| 2620.11 | Slag, ash and residues (other than from the manufacture of iron or steel) containing metals, arsenic or their compounds: containing mainly zinc: hard zinc spelter | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| 2620.19 | Slag, ash and residues (other than from the manufacture of iron or steel) containing metals, arsenic or their compounds: containing mainly zinc: other | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| 2817.00 | Zinc oxide; zinc peroxide | Free-5.5% | Free | Free | Free | 5.5% | 4.3% |
| 2827.39.40 | Chlorides, chloride oxides and chloride hydroxides; bromides and bromide oxides; iodides and iodide oxides: other chlorides: other: of zinc | Free | Free | Free | Free | 5.5% | 3.9% |
| 7901.11 | Unwrought zinc: zinc, not alloyed: containing by weight 99.99% or more of zinc | Free | Free | Free | Free | 2.5% |
Free- 4.30 yen/kg |
| 7901.12 | Unwrought zinc: zinc, not alloyed: containing by weight less than 99.99% of zinc | Free | Free | Free | Free | 2.5% |
Free- 4.30 yen/kg |
| 7901.20 | Unwrought zinc: zinc alloys | Free | Free | Free | Free | 2.5% |
Free- 4.30 yen/kg |
| 7902.00 | Zinc waste and scrap | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| 7903.10 | Zinc dust, powders and flakes: zinc dust | Free | Free | Free | Free | 2.5% | 3% |
| 7903.90 | Zinc dust, powders and flakes: other | Free | Free | Free | Free | 2.5% | 3% |
| 7904.00 | Zinc bars, rods, profiles and wire | Free | Free | Free | Free | 5% | 3% |
| 7905.00 | Zinc plates, sheets, strip and foil | Free | Free | Free | Free | 5% | 3% |
| 7907.00 | Other articles of zinc | Free-3% | Free-3% | Free | Free | 5% | 3% |
Sources: Canadian Customs Tariff, effective January 2009, Canada Border Services Agency; Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, 2009; Official Journal of the European Union (Tariff Information), September 19, 2008 edition; Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan, 2009.
(1) The customs duties applicable to imported goods originating in countries that are Contracting Parties to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade or with which the European Community has concluded agreements containing the most-favoured-nation tariff clause shall be the conventional duties shown in column 3 of the Schedule of Duties. (2) WTO rate is shown; lower tariff rates may apply circumstantially.
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 (p) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (tonnes) | ($000) | (tonnes) | ($000) | (tonnes) | ($000) | |
| PRODUCTION | ||||||
| (All Forms) (1) | ||||||
| Newfoundland and Labrador | – | – | 16 593 | 57 812 | 18 771 | 37 843 |
| Nova Scotia | – | – | 4 934 | 17 188 | 13 665 | 27 548 |
| New Brunswick | 260 045 | 943 704 | 244 251 | 850 969 | 224 347 | 452 282 |
| Quebec | 94 944 | 344 552 | 102 883 | 358 444 | 136 191 | 274 561 |
| Ontario | 107 842 | 391 358 | 89 700 | 312 513 | 110 486 | 222 739 |
| Manitoba | 105 251 | 381 957 | 105 602 | 367 916 | 98 299 | 198 172 |
| Saskatchewan | 541 | 1 964 | – | – | – | – |
| British Columbia | 32 858 | 119 242 | 30 151 | 105 047 | 27 416 | 55 271 |
| Total | 601 481 | 2 182 776 | 594 113 | 2 069 890 | 629 175 | 1 268 417 |
| Mine output (2) | 637 956 | . . | 630 485 | . . | 682 487 | . . |
| Refined (3) | 824 464 | . . | 802 103 | . . | 764 312 | . . |
Sources: Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada.
– Nil; . . Not available; (p) Preliminary.
(1) New refined zinc produced from domestic primary materials (concentrates, slags, residues, etc.) plus estimated recoverable zinc in ores and concentrates shipped for export. (2) Zinc content of ores and concentrates produced. (3) Refined zinc produced from domestic and imported ores.
Note: Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.
| Item No. | 2006 | 2007 | 2008(p) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (tonnes) | ($000) | (tonnes) | ($000) | (tonnes) | ($000) | ||
| EXPORTS | |||||||
| 2603.00.30 | Zinc content in copper | ||||||
| India | – | – | 1 | 2 | – | – | |
| 2607.00.30 | Zinc content in lead | ||||||
| China | – | – | – | – | 50 | 221 | |
| United States | – | – | 31 | 12 | – | – | |
| Total | – | – | 31 | 12 | 50 | 221 | |
| 2608.00.30 | Zinc content in zinc ores and concentrates | ||||||
| Belgium | 26 717 | 66 131 | 35 671 | 105 840 | 69 484 | 90 160 | |
| Norway | 6 540 | 15 566 | 9 375 | 21 935 | 35 364 | 40 872 | |
| China | – | – | – | – | 31 238 | 39 914 | |
| Spain | 11 738 | 21 560 | 33 944 | 84 164 | 42 336 | 36 171 | |
| Poland | 18 435 | 40 112 | 8 575 | 28 446 | 15 621 | 34 812 | |
| Finland | – | – | – | – | 26 564 | 20 613 | |
| South Korea | 17 246 | 50 868 | 11 432 | 19 815 | 23 692 | 19 887 | |
| Japan | 17 838 | 32 385 | 17 199 | 38 365 | 9 116 | 10 047 | |
| Other countries | 10 913 | 37 615 | 12 815 | 31 786 | 23 613 | 25 655 | |
| Total | 109 427 | 264 237 | 129 011 | 330 351 | 277 028 | 318 131 | |
| 2620.11 | Ash and residues containing hard zinc spelter | ||||||
| Germany | – | – | – | – | 432 | 305 | |
| Belgium | – | – | – | – | 26 | 21 | |
| Other countries | 811 | 482 | – | – | – | – | |
| Total | 811 | 482 | – | – | 458 | 326 | |
| 2620.19 | Ash and residues containing mainly zinc, n.e.s. | ||||||
| United States | 11 302 | 12 816 | 11 631 | 14 642 | 8 293 | 7 725 | |
| Malaysia | 128 | 409 | 379 | 658 | 190 | 309 | |
| Norway | – | – | – | – | 158 | 251 | |
| Belgium | – | – | – | – | 180 | 171 | |
| Other countries | 20 | 39 | 325 | 569 | 23 | 41 | |
| Total | 11 450 | 13 264 | 12 335 | 15 869 | 8 844 | 8 497 | |
| 2817.00 | Zinc oxide; zinc peroxide | ||||||
| United States | 49 093 | 145 195 | 47 510 | 169 966 | 40 404 | 97 099 | |
| Germany | 1 106 | 2 586 | 835 | 1 497 | 1 217 | 4 225 | |
| Brazil | 1 000 | 2 548 | 1 368 | 3 631 | 1 100 | 2 924 | |
| United Kingdom | 219 | 465 | 466 | 962 | 810 | 2 332 | |
| France | 971 | 2 438 | 1 488 | 3 815 | 530 | 1 604 | |
| Egypt | 370 | 849 | 761 | 1 790 | 545 | 1 433 | |
| Mexico | 85 | 140 | 170 | 368 | 372 | 1 302 | |
| India | 372 | 1 144 | 380 | 436 | 437 | 1 119 | |
| Sweden | 6 | 22 | 496 | 1 447 | 421 | 1 042 | |
| Other countries | 1 610 | 3 401 | 1 659 | 3 666 | 1 117 | 2 840 | |
| Total | 54 832 | 158 788 | 55 133 | 187 578 | 46 953 | 115 920 | |
| 2827.36 | Other chlorides: of zinc | ||||||
| Chile | 4 | 3 | – | – | – | – | |
| United States | 8 | 28 | – | – | – | – | |
| Total | 12 | 31 | – | – | – | – | |
| 2833.26 | Zinc sulphate | ||||||
| Cuba | 2 | 3 | – | – | – | – | |
| Netherlands | . . . | . . . | – | – | – | – | |
| United States | 5 129 | 3 503 | – | – | – | – | |
| Total | 5 131 | 3 506 | – | – | – | – | |
| 7901.11 | Zinc, not alloyed, unwrought, containing by weight 99.99% or more of zinc | ||||||
| United States | 458 382 | 1 201 985 | 442 871 | 1 451 127 | 356 412 | 784 917 | |
| Taiwan | 10 562 | 36 167 | 2 721 | 10 497 | 4 393 | 9 596 | |
| Malaysia | 6 542 | 22 521 | 4 766 | 16 606 | 4 017 | 7 018 | |
| Japan | – | – | 3 979 | 14 956 | 2 618 | 5 614 | |
| North Korea | – | – | – | – | 2 647 | 5 158 | |
| Hong Kong | 3 556 | 12 215 | 2 401 | 8 507 | 2 044 | 4 405 | |
| South Korea | – | – | – | – | 1 739 | 4 239 | |
| Belgium | 1 660 | 8 272 | 6 093 | 21 555 | 1 688 | 4 134 | |
| Philippines | 290 | 765 | 1 379 | 6 576 | 1 415 | 3 251 | |
| Israel | 2 793 | 8 714 | 2 | 6 | 1 441 | 3 031 | |
| Costa Rica | – | – | 683 | 1 980 | 787 | 2 005 | |
| Other countries | 7 427 | 19 808 | 6 298 | 22 909 | 609 | 1 390 | |
| Total | 491 212 | 1 310 447 | 471 193 | 1 554 719 | 379 810 | 834 758 | |
| 7901.12 | Zinc, not alloyed, unwrought, containing by weight less than 99.99% of zinc | ||||||
| United States | 104 718 | 309 196 | 119 727 | 415 704 | 206 419 | 457 317 | |
| Malaysia | 871 | 3 049 | 2 598 | 10 069 | 4 898 | 10 748 | |
| China | 3 793 | 10 015 | 2 847 | 11 437 | 2 572 | 4 376 | |
| Taiwan | 4 301 | 15 431 | 207 | 909 | 1 759 | 3 898 | |
| Indonesia | 3 688 | 13 902 | 1 744 | 6 647 | 1 601 | 3 434 | |
| Philippines | 2 439 | 8 669 | 2 562 | 9 674 | 1 387 | 3 199 | |
| Japan | 1 517 | 3 706 | 2 187 | 8 103 | 310 | 854 | |
| Other countries | 14 427 | 52 814 | 7 906 | 29 928 | 713 | 1 308 | |
| Total | 135 754 | 416 782 | 139 778 | 492 471 | 219 659 | 485 134 | |
| 7901.20 | Zinc alloys, unwrought | ||||||
| China | 35 | 189 | 1 | 3 | 4 584 | 10 277 | |
| Hong Kong | – | – | – | – | 2 991 | 7 141 | |
| Thailand | – | – | – | – | 1 025 | 2 232 | |
| United States | 668 | 2 479 | 596 | 2 321 | 430 | 1 140 | |
| Other countries | 75 | 219 | 289 | 1 152 | 269 | 514 | |
| Total | 778 | 2 887 | 886 | 3 476 | 9 299 | 21 304 | |
| 7902.00 | Zinc waste and scrap | ||||||
| United States | 11 883 | 18 213 | 12 839 | 19 979 | 10 631 | 12 729 | |
| Netherlands | – | – | – | – | 195 | 360 | |
| India | 327 | 380 | 415 | 981 | 259 | 345 | |
| Other countries | 6 437 | 10 438 | 106 | 230 | 233 | 350 | |
| Total | 18 647 | 29 031 | 13 360 | 21 190 | 11 318 | 13 784 | |
| 7903.10 | Zinc dust | ||||||
| United States | 6 263 | 26 772 | 6 057 | 29 570 | 6 951 | 21 307 | |
| Italy | 23 | 131 | 166 | 746 | 126 | 399 | |
| Russia | – | – | – | – | 66 | 214 | |
| Other countries | 144 | 450 | 183 | 636 | 20 | 67 | |
| Total | 6 430 | 27 353 | 6 406 | 30 952 | 7 163 | 21 987 | |
| 7903.90 | Zinc powders and flakes | ||||||
| United States | 12 615 | 48 792 | 11 946 | 58 582 | 10 595 | 28 780 | |
| Belgium | 577 | 1 888 | 738 | 2 744 | 510 | 1 100 | |
| Hong Kong | – | – | 136 | 792 | 108 | 431 | |
| Switzerland | 61 | 254 | 188 | 647 | 124 | 295 | |
| Other countries | 189 | 784 | 47 | 189 | 59 | 213 | |
| Total | 13 442 | 51 718 | 13 055 | 62 954 | 11 396 | 30 819 | |
| 7904.00 | Zinc bars, rods, profiles and wire | ||||||
| United States | 197 | 1 274 | 169 | 751 | 60 | 498 | |
| Hong Kong | – | – | – | – | 24 | 89 | |
| Thailand | 28 | 125 | 26 | 93 | 8 | 28 | |
| Other countries | 60 | 267 | 96 | 205 | 12 | 49 | |
| Total | 285 | 1 666 | 291 | 1 049 | 104 | 664 | |
| 7905.00 | Zinc plates, sheets, strip and foil | ||||||
| Thailand | – | – | – | – | 3 | 17 | |
| United States | 2 | 34 | 6 | 61 | . . . | 7 | |
| Other countries | 75 | 168 | 3 | 13 | – | – | |
| Total | 77 | 202 | 9 | 74 | 3 | 24 | |
| 7906.00 | Zinc tubes, pipes, and tube or pipe fittings (for example, couplings, elbows, sleeves) | ||||||
| United States | 1 572 | 10 921 | – | – | – | – | |
| Other countries | 12 | 110 | – | – | – | – | |
| Total | 1 584 | 11 031 | – | – | – | – | |
| 7907.00 | Other articles of zinc | ||||||
| United States | 2 167 | 17 305 | 3 869 | 33 588 | 2 971 | 27 240 | |
| Singapore | 1 | 2 | 121 | 430 | 1 001 | 2 350 | |
| Indonesia | – | – | . . . | 1 | 18 | 100 | |
| United Kingdom | 4 | 30 | 2 | 17 | 17 | 85 | |
| Thailand | 3 | 19 | . . . | . . . | 8 | 46 | |
| Sweden | 11 | 58 | 8 | 37 | 4 | 44 | |
| Mexico | 15 | 52 | 6 | 60 | 7 | 38 | |
| Ireland | . . . | . . . | 1 | 3 | 6 | 29 | |
| Australia | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 27 | |
| Other countries | 13 | 59 | 108 | 222 | 29 | 116 | |
| Total | 2 215 | 17 529 | 4 116 | 34 363 | 4 064 | 30 075 | |
| Total exports | 852 087 | 2 308 954 | 845 605 | 2 735 060 | 976 149 | 1 881 644 | |
| IMPORTS | |||||||
| 2603.00.00.30 | Zinc content in copper ores and concentrates | ||||||
| United States | 18 | 25 | 1 | 2 | – | – | |
| Germany | – | – | . . . | 1 | – | – | |
| Total | 18 | 25 | 1 | 3 | – | – | |
| 2607.00.00.30 | Zinc content in lead ores and concentrates | ||||||
| United States | 2 653 | 6 187 | 2 539 | 6 590 | 454 | 969 | |
| 2608.00.00.30 | Zinc content in zinc ores and concentrates | ||||||
| United States | 182 821 | 418 861 | 194 535 | 551 559 | 210 099 | 282 803 | |
| Peru | 74 816 | 180 811 | 66 436 | 199 438 | 71 129 | 50 895 | |
| Chile | 2 927 | 5 279 | 9 094 | 20 480 | 9 178 | 13 591 | |
| Other countries | 17 574 | 29 260 | 12 137 | 27 689 | 5 309 | 7 690 | |
| Total | 278 138 | 634 211 | 282 202 | 799 166 | 295 715 | 354 979 | |
| 2620.11 | Ash and residues containing hard zinc spelter | ||||||
| United States | . . . | . . . | . . . | . . . | . . . | . . . | |
| 2620.19 | Ash and residues containing mainly zinc, n.e.s. | ||||||
| United States | 389 | 433 | 8 424 | 2 040 | 6 606 | 1 127 | |
| Other countries | 130 | 138 | . . . | . . . | . . . | . . . | |
| Total | 519 | 571 | 8 424 | 2 040 | 6 606 | 1 127 | |
| 2817.00 | Zinc oxide; zinc peroxide | ||||||
| United States | 6 889 | 19 275 | 5 827 | 20 180 | 6 249 | 14 542 | |
| Mexico | 3 687 | 6 792 | 3 619 | 8 971 | 2 454 | 5 268 | |
| Turkey | – | – | 175 | 391 | 975 | 2 095 | |
| Japan | 52 | 80 | 31 | 153 | 49 | 235 | |
| Netherlands | . . . | . . . | 1 | 4 | 100 | 203 | |
| Other countries | 173 | 334 | 27 | 219 | 52 | 132 | |
| Total | 10 801 | 26 481 | 9 680 | 29 918 | 9 879 | 22 475 | |
| 2827.36 | Other chlorides: of zinc | ||||||
| United States | 955 | 1 212 | – | – | – | – | |
| Other countries | 61 | 134 | – | – | – | – | |
| Total | 1 016 | 1 346 | – | – | – | – | |
| 2827.39.40.00 | Other chlorides: other, of zinc | ||||||
| United States | – | – | 803 | 1 347 | 652 | 1 029 | |
| Belgium | – | – | 54 | 153 | 74 | 185 | |
| China | – | – | 380 | 805 | 22 | 24 | |
| Other countries | – | – | 1 | 5 | 11 | 41 | |
| Total | – | – | 1 238 | 2 310 | 759 | 1 279 | |
| 2833.26 | Zinc sulphate | ||||||
| China | 3 052 | 3 334 | – | – | – | – | |
| United States | 1 662 | 2 226 | – | – | – | – | |
| Other countries | 208 | 248 | – | – | – | – | |
| Total | 4 922 | 5 808 | – | – | – | – | |
| 7901.11 | Zinc, not alloyed, unwrought, containing by weight 99.99% or more of zinc | ||||||
| United States | 434 | 1 498 | 445 | 1 788 | 704 | 1 270 | |
| Canada | 7 | 25 | 411 | 655 | 297 | 531 | |
| Other countries | 1 288 | 4 487 | 24 | 59 | 3 | 7 | |
| Total | 1 729 | 6 010 | 880 | 2 502 | 1 004 | 1 808 | |
| 7901.12 | Zinc, not alloyed, unwrought, containing by weight less than 99.99% of zinc | ||||||
| United States | 258 | 376 | 259 | 575 | 248 | 624 | |
| Japan | – | – | – | – | 101 | 192 | |
| Other countries | – | – | 2 | 3 | 9 | 19 | |
| Total | 258 | 376 | 261 | 578 | 358 | 835 | |
| 7901.20 | Zinc alloys, unwrought | ||||||
| United States | 10 015 | 29 531 | 12 363 | 49 391 | 6 934 | 18 336 | |
| China | 236 | 550 | 7 | 26 | 17 | 40 | |
| Other countries | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | |
| Total | 10 252 | 30 086 | 12 371 | 49 422 | 6 952 | 18 378 | |
| 7902.00 | Zinc waste and scrap | ||||||
| United States | 1 050 | 1 060 | 915 | 1 430 | 284 | 571 | |
| Other countries | 2 | 2 | . . . | . . . | 2 | 5 | |
| Total | 1 052 | 1 062 | 915 | 1 430 | 286 | 576 | |
| 7903.10 | Zinc dust | ||||||
| Belgium | 2 786 | 10 811 | 2 759 | 11 828 | 754 | 3 315 | |
| United States | 441 | 2 221 | 538 | 3 313 | 402 | 2 043 | |
| Other countries | 96 | 410 | 32 | 182 | 27 | 117 | |
| Total | 3 323 | 13 442 | 3 329 | 15 323 | 1 183 | 5 475 | |
| 7903.90 | Zinc powders and flakes | ||||||
| United States | 2 502 | 5 141 | 621 | 1 395 | 189 | 707 | |
| Germany | 26 | 61 | 49 | 176 | 17 | 76 | |
| Other countries | 78 | 142 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 44 | |
| Total | 2 606 | 5 344 | 671 | 1 574 | 220 | 827 | |
| 7904.00 | Zinc bars, rods, profiles and wire | ||||||
| United States | 905 | 2 292 | 831 | 2 656 | 817 | 2 141 | |
| China | 560 | 1 747 | 640 | 1 957 | 449 | 1 913 | |
| Finland | 64 | 205 | 86 | 431 | 59 | 206 | |
| India | 207 | 583 | 42 | 150 | 48 | 170 | |
| Other countries | 10 | 43 | 38 | 134 | 19 | 62 | |
| Total | 1 746 | 4 870 | 1 637 | 5 328 | 1 392 | 4 492 | |
| 7905.00 | Zinc plates, sheets, strip and foil | ||||||
| France | 326 | 1 312 | 430 | 1 948 | 238 | 1 274 | |
| United States | 408 | 1 500 | 320 | 1 228 | 249 | 1 002 | |
| Germany | 364 | 1 503 | 92 | 493 | 195 | 963 | |
| China | 13 | 50 | 18 | 80 | 62 | 300 | |
| Other countries | 12 | 38 | 32 | 133 | 23 | 107 | |
| Total | 1 123 | 4 403 | 892 | 3 882 | 767 | 3 646 | |
| 7906.00 | Zinc tubes, pipes, and tube or pipe fittings (for example, couplings, elbows, sleeves) | ||||||
| Canada | 1 024 | 791 | – | – | – | – | |
| China | 172 | 769 | – | – | – | – | |
| India | 1 708 | 1 397 | – | – | – | – | |
| Mexico | 1 139 | 740 | – | – | – | – | |
| United Kingdom | . . . | 10 | – | – | – | – | |
| United States | 159 | 1 422 | – | – | – | – | |
| Other countries | 21 | 133 | – | – | – | – | |
| Total | 4 223 | 5 252 | – | – | – | – | |
| 7907.00 | Other articles of zinc | ||||||
| United States | 2 158 | 9 129 | 3 162 | 14 903 | 2 083 | 9 700 | |
| China | 1 005 | 5 157 | 1 496 | 8 310 | 1 265 | 8 740 | |
| Mexico | 163 | 251 | 1 369 | 1 501 | 437 | 3 009 | |
| Taiwan | 492 | 2 402 | 468 | 2 680 | 559 | 2 638 | |
| India | 372 | 845 | 924 | 1 893 | 262 | 2 126 | |
| Canada | 74 | 375 | 3 038 | 1 925 | 247 | 1 233 | |
| Germany | 27 | 245 | 47 | 243 | 58 | 648 | |
| Other countries | 202 | 1 319 | 217 | 1 401 | 411 | 2 332 | |
| Total | 4 493 | 19 723 | 10 721 | 32 856 | 5 322 | 30 426 | |
| Total imports | 328 872 | 765 197 | 335 761 | 952 922 | 330 897 | 447 292 | |
Sources: Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada.
– Nil; . . . Amount too small to be expressed; n.e.s. Not elsewhere specified; (p) Preliminary.
Notes: HS Code change from 2827.36 to 2827.39.40 as of 2007. HS Code change from 2833.26 to 2827.39.40 and 2833.29.00.90 as of 2007. HS Code change from 7906.00 to 7907.00.20 and 7907.00.20.30 as of 2007. Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | Secondary | Total | Primary | Secondary | Total | Primary | Secondary | Total | |
| (tonnes) | |||||||||
| Zinc used (1,2) for or in the production of: | |||||||||
| Copper alloys (brass, bronze, etc.) | x | x | 714 | x | x | 873 | x | x | 918 |
| Electroplating | x | x | 576 | x | x | 533 | x | x | 553 |
| Galvanizing: electro | x | x | 1 174 | x | x | 1 393 | x | x | 1 276 |
| hot dip | x | x | 64 792 | x | x | 69 688 | x | x | 66 595 |
| Zinc die-cast alloys | x | x | 39 659 | x | x | 39 541 | x | x | 29 218 |
| Other products (including rolled and ribbon zinc, zinc oxides) | x | x | 42 743 | x | x | 40 705 | x | x | 36 405 |
| Total | 147 992 | 1 666 | 149 658 | 149 798 | 2 934 | 152 732 | 132 866 | 2 100 | 134 966 |
| User stocks, year–end | 9 585 | 24 | 9 609 | 16 571 | 237 | 16 808 | 11 245 | 114 | 11 358 |
Sources: Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada.
x Confidential.
(1) User survey does not represent all Canadian users and is therefore consistently less than the apparent quantity used. (2) Due to confidentiality in some end-use categories, a breakdown of primary and recycled sources is not provided in order to be consistent.
Note: Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.
| Production | Exports | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Forms (2) | Refined (3) | In Ores and Concentrates | Refined | Total | |
| 1988 | 1 370 000 | 703 206 | 816 885 | 551 521 | 1 368 406 |
| 1989 | 1 272 854 | 669 677 | 614 223 | 495 060 | 1 109 283 |
| 1990 | 1 179 372 | 591 786 | 716 185 | 452 251 | 1 168 436 |
| 1991 | 1 083 008 | 660 552 | 566 815 | 520 508 | 1 087 323 |
| 1992 | 1 195 736 | 671 702 | 678 172 | 509 744 | 1 187 916 |
| 1993 | 990 727 | 659 881 | 455 953 | 493 265 | 949 218 |
| 1994 | 976 309 | 690 965 | 450 320 | 551 168 | 1 001 488 |
| 1995 | 1 094 703 | 720 346 | 609 575 | 533 179 | 1 142 754 |
| 1996 | 1 162 720 | 716 467 | 670 790 | 581 608 | 1 252 398 |
| 1997 | 1 026 864 | 703 798 | 489 697 | 546 965 | 1 036 662 |
| 1998 | 991 584 | 745 131 | 425 340 | 576 925 | 1 002 265 |
| 1999 | 963 321 | 776 927 | 327 662 | 610 792 | 938 454 |
| 2000 | 935 713 | 779 892 | 318 752 | 602 626 | 921 378 |
| 2001 | 1 012 048 | 661 172 | 419 164 | 495 184 | 914 348 |
| 2002 | 923 931 | 793 410 | 409 343 | 598 251 | 1 007 594 |
| 2003 | 757 307 | 761 199 | 257 877 | 590 555 | 848 432 |
| 2004 | 734 035 | 805 438 | 228 181 | 614 060 | 842 241 |
| 2005 | 618 844 | 724 035 | 178 099 | 527 304 | 705 403 |
| 2006 | 601 481 | 824 464 | 109 426 | 626 965 | 736 391 |
| 2007 | 594 113 | 802 103 | 129 044 | 610 970 | 740 014 |
| 2008 (p) | 629 175 | 764 312 | 277 079 | 599 469 | 876 548 |
Sources: Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada.
(p) Preliminary.
(1) Beginning in 1988, exports are based on the new Harmonized System and may not be in complete accordance with previous method of reporting. Ores and concentrates include HS class 2608.00.30, 2603.00.30, 2607.00.30 and 2616.10.30. Refined production includes HS class 7901.11 and 7901.12. (2) New refined zinc produced from domestic primary materials (concentrate, slags, residues, etc.) plus estimated recoverable zinc in ores and concentrates shipped for export. (3) Refined zinc produced from domestic and imported ores.
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 (p) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (000 tonnes) | ||||||
| EUROPE | ||||||
| Finland | 39 | 37 | 41 | 36 | 39 | 28 |
| Ireland | 419 | 438 | 429 | 426 | 401 | 398 |
| Poland | 154 | 148 | 136 | 127 | 124 | 121 |
| Russia | 159 | 162 | 186 | 178 | 177 | 180 |
| Spain | 15 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Sweden | 188 | 199 | 216 | 210 | 214 | 199 |
| Others | 45 | 37 | 32 | 50 | 79 | 116 |
| Subtotal | 1 019 | 1 021 | 1 040 | 1 027 | 1 034 | 1 042 |
| AFRICA | ||||||
| Morocco | 69 | 87 | 128 | 95 | 51 | 49 |
| Namibia | 108 | 202 | 232 | 208 | 196 | 196 |
| South Africa | 41 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 31 | 29 |
| Others | 41 | 36 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Subtotal | 259 | 357 | 414 | 340 | 281 | 278 |
| OCEANIA | ||||||
| Australia | 1 447 | 1 298 | 1 329 | 1 338 | 1 498 | 1 479 |
| AMERICAS | ||||||
| Bolivia | 145 | 146 | 159 | 173 | 194 | 362 |
| Brazil | 147 | 165 | 171 | 173 | 194 | 190 |
| Canada | 788 | 791 | 667 | 638 | 630 | 678 |
| Mexico | 472 | 462 | 476 | 469 | 452 | 487 |
| Peru | 1 369 | 1 209 | 1 202 | 1 202 | 1 444 | 1 603 |
| United States | 768 | 739 | 720 | 727 | 803 | 827 |
| Others | 106 | 96 | 4 | 121 | 117 | 119 |
| Subtotal | 3 795 | 3 608 | 3 496 | 3 503 | 3 834 | 4 266 |
| ASIA | ||||||
| China | 2 029 | 2 391 | 2 547 | 2 844 | 3 048 | 3 186 |
| India | 305 | 340 | 446 | 503 | 558 | 598 |
| Iran | 111 | 135 | 167 | 166 | 75 | 86 |
| Japan | 45 | 48 | 41 | 7 | – | – |
| Kazakhstan | 392 | 404 | 405 | 410 | 446 | 482 |
| North Korea | 52 | 62 | 65 | 85 | 95 | 85 |
| Thailand | 31 | 40 | 43 | 42 | 42 | 40 |
| Turkey | 40 | 39 | 56 | 59 | 71 | 68 |
| Others | 53 | 49 | 62 | 119 | 154 | 158 |
| Subtotal | 3 058 | 3 508 | 3 832 | 4 235 | 4 489 | 4 703 |
| Total world | 9 579 | 9 792 | 10 110 | 10 443 | 11 136 | 11 768 |
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group.
– Nil; (p) Preliminary.
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 (p) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (000 tonnes) | ||||||
| EUROPE | ||||||
| Belgium | 244 | 257 | 222 | 238 | 240 | 212 |
| Finland | 266 | 285 | 282 | 282 | 306 | 298 |
| France | 253 | 260 | 209 | 120 | 125 | 109 |
| Germany | 388 | 358 | 335 | 317 | 295 | 292 |
| Italy | 123 | 118 | 121 | 109 | 102 | 105 |
| Netherlands | 223 | 225 | 228 | 238 | 219 | 239 |
| Norway | 142 | 139 | 148 | 161 | 157 | 145 |
| Poland | 154 | 154 | 137 | 134 | 142 | 146 |
| Russia | 253 | 241 | 211 | 248 | 263 | 270 |
| Spain | 519 | 523 | 500 | 507 | 509 | 493 |
| Others | 179 | 161 | 166 | 154 | 158 | 162 |
| Subtotal | 2 744 | 2 721 | 2 559 | 2 508 | 2 516 | 2 471 |
| AFRICA | ||||||
| Algeria | 32 | 30 | 37 | 33 | 27 | 28 |
| Namibia | 47 | 119 | 133 | 134 | 150 | 144 |
| South Africa | 112 | 105 | 104 | 90 | 101 | 92 |
| Zambia | 2 | 2 | – | – | 1 | 2 |
| Subtotal | 194 | 257 | 274 | 257 | 279 | 266 |
| AMERICAS | ||||||
| Argentina | 39 | 35 | 41 | 43 | 43 | 36 |
| Brazil | 258 | 266 | 267 | 272 | 265 | 260 |
| Canada | 761 | 805 | 723 | 824 | 802 | 764 |
| Mexico | 320 | 337 | 336 | 285 | 320 | 342 |
| Peru | 202 | 196 | 164 | 175 | 162 | 190 |
| United States | 350 | 354 | 350 | 269 | 279 | 274 |
| Subtotal | 1 930 | 1 993 | 1 881 | 1 868 | 1 871 | 1 866 |
| ASIA | ||||||
| China | 2 319 | 2 720 | 2 776 | 3 163 | 3 743 | 3 913 |
| India | 280 | 272 | 302 | 415 | 459 | 636 |
| Iran | 84 | 96 | 140 | 139 | 125 | 110 |
| Japan | 651 | 635 | 638 | 614 | 598 | 616 |
| Kazakhstan | 279 | 323 | 357 | 365 | 358 | 366 |
| South Korea | 645 | 669 | 647 | 667 | 691 | 742 |
| Thailand | 107 | 103 | 93 | 84 | 99 | 100 |
| Others | 85 | 94 | 99 | 108 | 114 | 105 |
| Subtotal | 4 450 | 4 912 | 5 052 | 5 555 | 6 187 | 6 588 |
| OCEANIA | ||||||
| Australia | 553 | 474 | 457 | 466 | 502 | 499 |
| Total world | 9 871 | 10 357 | 10 228 | 10 654 | 11 355 | 11 690 |
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group.
– Nil; (p) Preliminary.
(1) Total production by smelters and refineries of zinc in marketable form or used directly for alloying, including production on toll in the reporting country, regardless of the type of source material from which it is produced, i.e., whether ores, concentrates, residues, slag or scrap. Remelted zinc and zinc dusts are excluded.
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group.
. . Not available; (p) Preliminary.
(1) Total refined zinc use, including zinc used directly for the production of zinc alloys, regardless of the type of source material from which it is produced, i.e., ores, concentrates, residues, slags or scrap. Remelted zinc and zinc dusts are excluded.
| Company and Location | Annual Rated Capacity |
|---|---|
| (000 tonnes of slab zinc) | |
| PRIMARY | |
|
Canadian Electrolytic Zinc Limited Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec |
280 |
|
Xstrata Zinc Canada Timmins, Ontario |
150 |
|
HudBay Minerals Inc. Flin Flon, Manitoba |
118 |
|
Teck Cominco Limited Trail, British Columbia |
295 |
| Total primary, Canada | 843 |
Source: Natural Resources Canada.
|
LME Special High Grade Settlement |
|
|---|---|
| (US$/t) | |
| 2007 | |
| January | 3 786.7 |
| February | 3 309.5 |
| March | 3 271.3 |
| April | 3 557.5 |
| May | 3 830.3 |
| June | 3 603.3 |
| July | 3 546.9 |
| August | 3 252.5 |
| September | 2 881.4 |
| October | 2 975.3 |
| November | 2 541.3 |
| December | 2 353.1 |
| Yearly average | 3 242.4 |
| 2008 | |
| January | 2 340.1 |
| February | 2 438.1 |
| March | 2 511.5 |
| April | 2 263.8 |
| May | 2 182.1 |
| June | 1 894.5 |
| July | 1 852.4 |
| August | 1 723.3 |
| September | 1 735.5 |
| October | 1 302.1 |
| November | 1 152.6 |
| December | 1 100.6 |
| Yearly average | 1 874.7 |
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group.