Atomic properties
Market data
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Raw material sources & pricing
| Raw Material Form | Grade/Quality | Price Paid by Refiners | Major Sources | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sphalerite Concentrate | 45-60% Zn | $140-180/MT | Australia, Peru, China | Primary zinc sulfide ore (ZnS) |
| Smithsonite Ore | 35-45% Zn | $120-160/MT | Turkey, Iran, Mexico | Zinc carbonate (ZnCO₃), easier to process |
| Hemimorphite Ore | 40-50% Zn | $130-170/MT | China, Mexico | Zinc silicate, requires special processing |
| Secondary Zinc (Scrap) | 90-99% Zn | $2,000-2,400/MT | USA, Europe, Japan | From galvanized steel, brass, die-cast |
Zinc Ore (Sphalerite) - Primary Raw Material
Current Market Price: $140-180/MT (varies by zinc content and location) Major Global Reserves: Australia: 68 million MT (27% of world reserves) China: 44 million MT (17% of world reserves) Peru: 23 million MT (9% of world reserves) Mexico: 22 million MT (9% of world reserves) Russia: 22 million MT (9% of world reserves) 2025 Production Leaders: China: 4.8 million MT (37% of global production) Peru: 1.6 million MT Australia: 1.3 million MT India: 0.9 million MT United States: 0.7 million MT Raw Material Form Grade/Quality Price Paid by Refiners Major Sources Notes Sphalerite Concentrate 45-60% Zn $140-180/MT Australia, Peru, China Primary zinc sulfide ore (ZnS) Smithsonite Ore 35-45% Zn $120-160/MT Turkey, Iran, Mexico Zinc carbonate (ZnCO₃), easier to process Hemimorphite Ore 40-50% Zn $13
⚠️ Seawater Zinc Extraction
Commercial Viability: NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE Concentration: 0.005-0.010 ppm (extremely low) Chemical Form: Zn²⁺, ZnOH⁺, Zn(OH)₂⁰ complexes Status: No commercial concentrated seawater zinc form exists. The low concentration and presence of other competing ions make extraction uneconomical compared to terrestrial mining. Note: Unlike magnesium or bromine, zinc has never been commercially extracted from seawater due to its extremely low concentration and unfavorable economics.
Production cost analysis
| Cost Component | $/MT Zinc | % of Total Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc Concentrate (1.8-2.0 MT needed) | $280-360 | 15-20% | Based on 50-55% Zn content |
| Energy (Electricity + Fuel) | $500-700 | 25-35% | See detailed breakdown below |
| Labor | $150-250 | 8-12% | Varies by country |
| Sulfuric Acid (Credit) | ($200-300) | -10 to -15% | By-product credit from roasting |
| Other Materials & Overhead | $470-590 | 25-30% | Reagents, maintenance, transport |
| Total Production Cost | $1,200-1,900 | 100% | Compare to selling price: $2,600-3,000/MT |
Energy consumption breakdown
| Process Stage | Energy Consumption | % of Total Energy | Energy Type | Key Operations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrolytic Process | 11-13 MJ/kg | 65-70% | Electricity | Electrolysis at 35-40°C, DC power 3.0-3.5 kWh/kg Zn |
| Roasting Process | 3-4 MJ/kg | 18-20% | Natural Gas/Coal | Oxidation of ZnS to ZnO at 900-1000°C |
| Leaching & Purification | 1-2 MJ/kg | 8-10% | Steam/Electricity | Acid leaching, solution purification |
| Melting & Casting | 0.5-1 MJ/kg | 3-5% | Natural Gas | Melting cathode zinc, casting ingots |
Roast-Leach-Electrowin (RLE) Process Details
Concentrate Preparation: 1-2% - Grinding and blending Roasting: 18-20% - Convert ZnS to ZnO at 900-1000°C Leaching: 4-5% - Sulfuric acid dissolution Purification: 3-5% - Remove impurities (Fe, Cu, Cd) Electrowinning: 65-70% - Zinc deposition on cathodes
Imperial Smelting Process (ISP) Details
Sintering: 15-20% - Agglomerate feed Blast Furnace: 50-55% - Reduction at 1200°C Zinc Vapor Condensation: 10-15% - Cooling systems Lead Recovery: 10-15% - Bottom product Gas Cleaning: 5-10% - Environmental control
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special High Grade Zinc | Zn | 65.38 g/mol | 99.995% | $2.80-3.20 | Die casting, brass production |
| High Grade Zinc | Zn | 65.38 g/mol | 99.95% | $2.60-3.00 | Galvanizing, alloys |
| Prime Western Zinc | Zn | 65.38 g/mol | 98.0-98.5% | $2.40-2.80 | General galvanizing |
| Zinc Oxide | ZnO | 81.38 g/mol | 99.0-99.9% | $1.80-3.50 | Rubber, ceramics, cosmetics |
| Zinc Sulfate Monohydrate | ZnSO₄·H₂O | 179.47 g/mol | 35% Zn | $0.50-0.80 | Agriculture, animal feed |
| Zinc Chloride | ZnCl₂ | 136.30 g/mol | 98-99% | $1.20-1.80 | Batteries, flux, textile |
| Zinc Dust (Atomized) | Zn | 65.38 g/mol | 95-99% | $3.50-6.00 | Paints, chemical reactions |
| Zinc Powder (Fine) | Zn | 65.38 g/mol | 99.5-99.9% | $4.00-8.00 | Batteries, metallurgy |
| Zinc Stearate | Zn(C₁₈H₃₅O₂)₂ | 632.35 g/mol | 10-12% Zn | $2.50-3.50 | Plastics, rubber, cosmetics |
| Zinc Carbonate | ZnCO₃ | 125.42 g/mol | 52% Zn | $1.50-2.50 | Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics |
| Zinc Phosphate | Zn₃(PO₄)₂·4H₂O | 458.21 g/mol | 50% Zn | $1.80-2.80 | Corrosion protection, dental cement |
| Zinc Sulfide | ZnS | 97.47 g/mol | 67% Zn | $2.00-4.00 | Pigments, phosphors |
Suppliers by country
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Zhuzhou Smelter Group | SHG zinc, zinc alloys, zinc powder | World's largest zinc producer, 400,000 MT/year capacity |
| Huludao Zinc Industry | Zinc ingots, zinc oxide, zinc dust | Integrated producer, 350,000 MT/year |
| Baiyin Nonferrous | Zinc ingots, zinc alloys | Large integrated producer |
🇰🇷 South Korea
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Korea Zinc | SHG zinc, zinc alloys, zinc chemicals | World's largest zinc smelter by single site |
| Young Poong Corporation | Zinc ingots, zinc dust | High-purity zinc products |
🇨🇦 Canada
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Teck Resources | Zinc concentrate, refined zinc | Integrated miner and refiner, Trail smelter |
| Glencore (CEZinc) | SHG zinc, zinc alloys | High-quality zinc products |
🇧🇪 Belgium
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Nyrstar | Zinc ingots, zinc alloys, zinc chemicals | Global multi-metals company, recycling focus |
| Umicore | Zinc oxide, zinc powder, zinc recycling | Specialty zinc materials, recycling leader |
🇵🇱 Poland
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| KGHM Polska Miedź | Zinc ingots, zinc-lead concentrate | Integrated copper-zinc producer |
🇮🇳 India
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Hindustan Zinc | Zinc ingots, zinc alloys, zinc products | India's largest zinc producer, Vedanta subsidiary |
| Binani Zinc | Zinc oxide, zinc chemicals | Specialty zinc compounds |
🇵🇪 Peru
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Nexa Resources (formerly Votorantim) | Zinc concentrate, refined zinc | Integrated miner and smelter |
| Volcan Compañía Minera | Zinc concentrate | Major zinc ore producer |
🇦🇺 Australia
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Sun Metals (Korea Zinc subsidiary) | SHG zinc, zinc alloys | High-quality zinc refinery in Queensland |
| Glencore (Mount Isa) | Zinc concentrate, lead-zinc ore | Major mining operations |
Market demand by product form
| Product Form | Global Market Size | USA Market | China Market | Growth Rate (CAGR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galvanizing (Steel Protection) | $18 billion | 12% share | 48% share | 4.2% |
| Die-Casting Alloys | $8.5 billion | 18% share | 42% share | 5.5% |
| Brass & Bronze | $6.2 billion | 15% share | 38% share | 3.8% |
| Zinc Oxide | $4.5 billion | 20% share | 35% share | 5.0% |
| Zinc Chemicals | $2.8 billion | 22% share | 30% share | 4.5% |
| Zinc Dust & Powder | $1.2 billion | 25% share | 28% share | 6.0% |
| - Atomized Powder | $0.5 billion | 30% share | 25% share | 7.5% |
| - Zinc Dust (Paint Grade) | $0.4 billion | 22% share | 32% share | 5.0% |
| - Battery Grade Powder | $0.3 billion | 20% share | 30% share | 5.5% |
| Other Applications | $1.8 billion | 18% share | 35% share | 4.0% |
Market trends
Infrastructure Growth: Global infrastructure spending driving galvanizing demand, especially in Asia EV Impact: Electric vehicle growth increasing demand for galvanized steel and die-cast components Supply Constraints: Mine closures in Peru and Australia creating supply tightness Environmental Regulations: China enforcing stricter emissions standards on zinc smelters Recycling Growth: Secondary zinc production increasing to 35% of total supply Price Volatility: LME zinc prices ranging $2,400-3,200/MT on supply concerns Technology Advances: Direct leaching technologies reducing energy consumption by 20% Trade Tensions: Export restrictions and tariffs affecting global zinc concentrate flows
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc Metal | Zn | 65.38 | 15.30 |
| Zinc Oxide | ZnO | 81.38 | 12.29 |
| Zinc Sulfate Monohydrate | ZnSO₄·H₂O | 179.47 | 5.57 |
| Zinc Chloride | ZnCl₂ | 136.30 | 7.34 |
| Zinc Carbonate | ZnCO₃ | 125.42 | 7.97 |
| Zinc Sulfide | ZnS | 97.47 | 10.26 |
| Zinc Stearate | Zn(C₁₈H₃₅O₂)₂ | 632.35 | 1.58 |
References
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