Industrial metals · ZINC

Zinc price

Zinc currently trades at US$3,542 per tonne (≈ €3,012 · £2,640) — effectively at the 12-month high. Over the past 12 months it has gained 30.79%, with the annual range running from US$2,586 to US$3,588. 24-hour movement is minimal (±0.00%).

US$3,542 / tonne
≈ €3,012 ≈ £2,640 Unchanged 24h 95% within the 52-week range
FX Editorial Team · Data updated: · Editorially verified
Zinc (ZINC) price today US$3,542 / tonne, ↑ +0.00% (24h)

Zinc chart

Interactive chart and 30-day overview

7 days
▲ +0.37%
+US$13.05
30 days
▲ +1.87%
+US$65.15
1 year
▲ +30.79%
+US$833.80
52-week range
US$2,586 95% US$3,588
Zinc (ZINC) 30-day price chart — USD, EUR, GBP

The Zinc chart shows how the zinc price has moved over time. The interactive view lets you switch the timeframe (from 7 days up to MAX), the currency (USD / EUR / GBP) and overlay moving averages. Click any two points to measure the percentage change between those dates.

How is zinc priced?

Zinc is priced per metric tonne (1 t = 1,000 kg) — the standard unit for industrial and bulk commodities on the London Metal Exchange (LME), CME and major European exchanges. Wholesale shipments move in containers or bulk vessels, typically in 25-tonne or 100-tonne lots.

At US$3,542 per tonne, one kilogram is worth US$3.54. End-user pricing for processed goods includes refining margins, transport and tariffs on top of the wholesale benchmark.

What drives the price of zinc?

A dominant share of zinc demand comes from galvanised steel: about 60% of global zinc use goes into galvanising for corrosion protection. In hot-dip galvanising, steel sheet is immersed in a 450 °C bath of molten zinc. The coating then solidifies and protects the steel from rust for decades. Cyclical activity in construction, including roofing, frames and windows, the car industry, including body panels, and infrastructure, including guardrails, power-line pylons and pipelines, therefore feeds directly into LME zinc prices. Secondary uses include brass alloys at about 15%, die-cast products at about 15%, including automotive parts, locks and handles, and zinc-oxide-based chemicals.

On the supply side, there are two separate stages: mine production and smelter refining. Global mine output is about 13 million tonnes a year. China alone produces about 4.2 million tonnes, Peru about 1.4 million tonnes and Australia about 1.3 million tonnes, followed by India, the US, Mexico and Bolivia. Refining is far more geographically concentrated, with a large share of smelter capacity in China. The economic balance between mines and smelters is reflected in the treatment charge (TC) and refining charge (RC): the fee a mine pays a smelter to process concentrate. A high TC points to ample concentrate supply and strong smelter pricing power. A low TC signals tight mine supply.

The most direct gauge of market tightness is exchange warehouse inventory. Zinc stocks held in LME and SHFE warehouses give a daily snapshot of the physical supply-demand balance. Inventories equal to only a few days of global consumption signal a tight market and can put a lasting premium into spot prices. Zinc is also sensitive to the Chinese construction cycle, including credit activity in the property sector and infrastructure investment, global steel output and the strength of the US dollar. A geopolitical risk premium can appear if major mine capacity is disrupted, for example by a strike, flooding or a regulatory shutdown at a large Peruvian or Australian operation.

How to invest in zinc

A European retail investor can obtain zinc exposure in several ways. A zinc CFD is the most direct route: a leveraged product linked to the LME Zinc price, tradable in both directions, but with high risk. A pure zinc ETF is not available on the market; industrial metals basket ETFs, such as DBB — Invesco DB Base Metals Fund, include partial zinc exposure. Among individual shares, Switzerland-based Glencore (GLEN.L) is one of the world’s largest integrated zinc producers, Canada’s Teck Resources (TECK) is a major zinc miner through the Red Dog mine in Alaska, while Belgium’s Nyrstar and Sweden’s Boliden are also important smelting companies. Pure-play zinc stocks are rare. Most producers are diversified mining companies. Physical zinc is not common as a retail investment because of its low value per unit.

30-day price history

Chart and daily closing prices

Zinc (ZINC) 30-day price chart — USD, EUR, GBP

Daily close

30 trading days

Date Price (USD) Price (EUR) Price (GBP) Daily change
23 May 2026 US$3,542 €3,012 £2,640 ▼ −0.02%
22 May 2026 US$3,543 €3,013 £2,640 ▲ +0.60%
21 May 2026 US$3,521 €2,995 £2,625 ▼ −1.08%
20 May 2026 US$3,560 €3,028 £2,653 ▲ +1.54%
19 May 2026 US$3,506 €2,982 £2,613 ▼ −0.55%
18 May 2026 US$3,525 €2,998 £2,627 ▼ −0.10%
16 May 2026 US$3,529 €3,001 £2,630 ▼ −0.17%
15 May 2026 US$3,535 €3,006 £2,634 ▼ −1.49%
14 May 2026 US$3,588 €3,052 £2,674 ▲ +1.30%
13 May 2026 US$3,543 €3,013 £2,640 ▲ +0.18%
12 May 2026 US$3,536 €3,007 £2,635 ▲ +1.56%
11 May 2026 US$3,482 €2,961 £2,595 ▲ +1.53%
10 May 2026 US$3,429 €2,916 £2,556 ▲ +0.82%
6 May 2026 US$3,401 €2,893 £2,535 ▲ +0.79%
5 May 2026 US$3,375 €2,870 £2,515 ▲ +1.02%
2 May 2026 US$3,340 €2,841 £2,490 ▲ +0.02%
1 May 2026 US$3,340 €2,840 £2,489 ▼ −0.61%
30 Apr 2026 US$3,360 €2,858 £2,504 ▼ −0.26%
29 Apr 2026 US$3,369 €2,865 £2,511 ▼ −0.97%
28 Apr 2026 US$3,402 €2,893 £2,535 ▼ −0.16%
27 Apr 2026 US$3,407 €2,898 £2,539 ▼ −1.99%
25 Apr 2026 US$3,476 €2,957 £2,591 ▼ −0.01%
22 Apr 2026 US$3,477 €2,957 £2,591 ▲ +0.56%
21 Apr 2026 US$3,457 €2,940 £2,577 ▲ +0.67%
20 Apr 2026 US$3,434 €2,921 £2,560 —

Zinc: frequently asked questions

How much does 1 kg of zinc cost? +
Zinc is quoted internationally on the London Metal Exchange (LME) in USD per tonne. For example, at a price of 2,700 USD/tonne, 1 kilogram of zinc costs about 2.70 USD (2,700 / 1,000). In the scrap market, buyback prices are usually lower. Dealers price material according to purity, alloy composition, such as pure zinc, brass or zinc turnings, and logistics. For galvanised steel sheet scrap, only the zinc coating, typically 100–300 grams per square metre, is relevant.
How much does 1 tonne of zinc cost? +
At an LME quote of 2,700 USD/tonne, for example, 1 tonne of SHG (Special High Grade, ≥99.995% purity) zinc costs about 2,700 USD. This is the reference for global physical trade and long-term procurement contracts. Steelmakers, foundries and chemical end-users contract with smelters at this price plus a regional premium, covering logistics and tariffs. The LME Zinc contract lot size is 25 tonnes.
Why is zinc used to coat steel? +
Zinc is more electrochemically negative than steel, with a lower redox potential. On galvanised steel sheet, the zinc coating therefore acts as a sacrificial anode: it corrodes before the steel itself and protects the base material from rust even if the coating is locally damaged. A typical hot-dip galvanised Z275 sheet has 275 g/m² of zinc coating across both sides, which can provide a 30–50 year service life under suitable conditions. This is why about 60% of global zinc use goes into galvanising — for construction steel, car bodies, guardrails, poles and pipe networks.
What drives the price of zinc? +
Three main factors matter: galvanised steel demand, linked to construction and car-sector cycles, especially in China, which accounts for about 50% of global zinc use; mine capacity and smelter economics, where the treatment charge, or TC, indicates whether ore supply is ample or tight; and exchange warehouse inventories, including LME and SHFE stocks, where low inventories point to tight physical supply. The dollar, Chinese property-sector credit activity and the pace of infrastructure investment also influence prices.
How can I buy zinc for investment purposes? +
European retail investors have three main routes: zinc CFDs, which offer direct leveraged exposure to the LME price and carry high risk; individual mining and smelting shares, such as Glencore (GLEN.L), Teck Resources (TECK), Boliden and Nyrstar; and industrial metals basket ETFs with indirect exposure, such as DBB — Invesco DB Base Metals Fund, which holds zinc, copper and aluminium. A pure-play zinc ETF is not available on the market. Physical zinc is not practical as a retail investment because its low value per unit, about 2.70 USD/kg, and storage costs make it uneconomic.
What does Special High Grade (SHG) mean? +
SHG zinc is the deliverable quality standard of the London Metal Exchange: zinc cast in ingot form with at least 99.995% purity and strict limits on impurities such as lead, cadmium, iron and tin. The LME Zinc contract is based on this grade, and many global long-term procurement contracts use it as a reference. Less refined zinc grades, such as Prime Western and GOB, are suitable for industrial use but are not LME deliverable and trade at a discount to SHG on a per-tonne basis.
What is the treatment charge (TC) and why does it matter? +
The treatment charge (TC) is the fee a mining company pays a smelter to treat and refine zinc concentrate, quoted in USD per tonne of concentrate. A high TC indicates ample global mine production and strong bargaining power for smelters, which can charge higher fees. A low or negative TC suggests concentrate is scarce and mines have more pricing power. The TC is therefore a forward indicator of the market’s internal supply-demand balance. The outcome of annual benchmark TC negotiations often shapes sentiment for several months. If smelters operate for a prolonged period with loss-making TCs, capacity curtailments become a risk.
How are gains from zinc investments taxed? +
Tax treatment varies by jurisdiction; consult a local tax adviser.

More industrial metals

Copper
US$6.41
pound
Aluminium
US$3,668
tonne
Nickel
US$18,880
tonne
Tin
US$53,248
tonne
Data sources: London Metal Exchange — LME Zinc · International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) · USGS — Mineral Commodity Summaries: Zinc · S&P Global Platts — Zinc