Global Zinc Market 2025

Zinc Market Size

The global zinc market rose slightly to $X in 2022, growing by 3.6% against the previous year. Overall, the total consumption indicated tangible growth from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +4.5% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, consumption decreased by +0.9% against 2018 indices. Global consumption peaked in 2022 and is likely to see steady growth in the immediate term.

Zinc Production

In value terms, zinc production amounted to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. In general, the total production indicated tangible growth from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +3.5% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, production decreased by -7.6% against 2018 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 with an increase of 29% against the previous year. Over the period under review, global production hit record highs at $X in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2022, production failed to regain momentum.

Zinc Exports

Exports

In 2022, shipments abroad of zinc, unwrought (not alloyed) decreased by -16% to X tons, falling for the second consecutive year after two years of growth. Overall, exports showed a noticeable descent. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020 with an increase of 19%. Over the period under review, the global exports hit record highs at X tons in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, the exports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, zinc exports declined to $X in 2022. Over the period under review, total exports indicated a temperate increase from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +2.8% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, exports increased by +13.4% against 2020 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when exports increased by 44% against the previous year. The global exports peaked at $X in 2021, and then shrank in the following year.

Exports by Country

The biggest shipments were from Canada (X tons), the Netherlands (X tons), India (X tons), Finland (X tons), Kazakhstan (X tons), Spain (X tons), Peru (X tons), Australia (X tons), South Korea (X tons), Norway (X tons), Burkina Faso (X tons) and Japan (X tons), together reaching 77% of total export. Iran (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the key exporting countries, was attained by Burkina Faso (with a CAGR of +10.3%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest zinc supplying countries worldwide were Canada ($X), the Netherlands ($X) and India ($X), together accounting for 32% of global exports. Finland, Peru, South Korea, Australia, Kazakhstan, Spain, Norway, Japan, Iran and Burkina Faso lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 47%.

Burkina Faso, with a CAGR of +18.3%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, among the main exporting countries over the period under review, while shipments for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

The average zinc export price stood at $X per ton in 2022, surging by 17% against the previous year. Overall, export price indicated resilient growth from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +5.5% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, zinc export price increased by +40.8% against 2020 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 an increase of 38% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the average export prices reached the maximum in 2022 and is expected to retain growth in the near future.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was India ($X per ton), while Burkina Faso ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Burkina Faso (+7.2%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Zinc Imports

Imports

In 2022, overseas purchases of zinc, unwrought (not alloyed) decreased by -11.7% to X tons, falling for the second year in a row after four years of growth. Overall, imports recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2017 when imports increased by 5.9% against the previous year. Global imports peaked at X tons in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2022, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, zinc imports expanded to $X in 2022. In general, total imports indicated resilient growth from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +5.1% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, imports increased by +27.2% against 2020 indices. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2017 when imports increased by 46% against the previous year. Over the period under review, global imports attained the maximum at $X in 2018; afterwards, it flattened through to 2022.

Imports by Country

In 2022, the United States (X tons), distantly followed by Turkey (X tons), the Netherlands (X tons), Germany (X tons), China (X tons) and Italy (X tons) were the largest importers of zinc, unwrought (not alloyed), together committing 53% of total imports. India (X tons), Thailand (X tons), Taiwan (Chinese) (X tons), Belgium (X tons), France (X tons), Singapore (X tons) and the UK (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

Imports into the United States increased at an average annual rate of +1.0% from 2012 to 2022. At the same time, Singapore (+19.1%), Thailand (+18.0%), India (+6.3%), Turkey (+4.6%), the Netherlands (+3.0%) and Italy (+2.1%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Singapore emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in the world, with a CAGR of +19.1% from 2012-2022. The UK experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, France (-1.5%), Germany (-2.1%), Taiwan (Chinese) (-3.9%), China (-7.3%) and Belgium (-9.6%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Turkey (+3.4 p.p.), Thailand (+2.8 p.p.), the United States (+2.3 p.p.), the Netherlands (+2.1 p.p.), Singapore (+1.9 p.p.) and India (+1.7 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the global imports from 2012-2022, the share of Belgium (-4.6 p.p.) and China (-6.4 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the United States ($X) constitutes the largest market for imported zinc, unwrought (not alloyed) worldwide, comprising 19% of global imports. The second position in the ranking was held by Turkey ($X), with a 9.3% share of global imports. It was followed by Germany, with an 8.1% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of value in the United States totaled +7.1%. The remaining importing countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Turkey (+10.8% per year) and Germany (+3.9% per year).

Import Prices by Country

In 2022, the average zinc import price amounted to $X per ton, rising by 17% against the previous year. Overall, import price indicated buoyant growth from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +5.4% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, zinc import price increased by +47.4% against 2020 indices. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2017 when the average import price increased by 38%. Global import price peaked in 2022 and is likely to continue growth in the near future.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Germany ($X per ton), while China ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Belgium (+6.7%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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