materials stewardship and responsible sourcing principles to the lead battery value
chain. The program is aiming to further enhance the reputation of these industries
by adopting a common set of guiding principles, establishing continuous
improvement goals and supporting low- and middle-income countries through
sharing expertise on the environmentally responsible management of lead.
Regional Changes in Refined Zinc Output and Demand
Claire Hassall, CHR Metals Ltd.
Global refined zinc output has increased from 8.9Mt in 2000 to around 11.8Mt in
2019, an increase of almost 3Mt. Only 530kt of this increase occurred outside
China, while China’s output increased by over 2.4Mt. The major expansion in
China’s refined zinc production capacity took place in the ten years to 2010, with
some further moderate increase to 2016, but there has been a net decrease in
capacity since then. Refined zinc usage globally increased from 8.9Mt in 2000 to
12.2Mt in 2019, an increase of 3.3Mt, but China accounted for more than this total
increase, effectively taking away zinc demand from the rest of world. However,
China’s share of global zinc demand is now changing as its economy matures and,
in the last 3 years, China’s demand for zinc has stagnated at best, and in some years
has fallen significantly. Higher costs, more extensive and better enforced environmental regulations and the effect of trade disputes have seen China’s manufacturing industry more constrained, with some Chinese manufacturing companies
now basing activities off-shore, and with other countries now better able to compete
in world markets than in the initial 10–15 years after China’s entry into the WTO at
the end of 2002. The last 9 years have seen 13 zinc smelters outside China close,
with the loss of close to 1Mt of capacity. The last greenfield zinc smelter ex-China
was commissioned in 2010, and capacity expansions have taken place at a number
of plants, notably in South Korea, Mexico, India and Norway, compensating for
capacity losses, but not adding to capacity overall. The next 5 years are expected to
see growth in refined zinc demand concentrated in countries other than China, with
South-Eastern and South Asian countries leading the way. This raises the question
of where and how the additional requirement for refined zinc will be met and
whether China will play any role in supplying zinc to these expanding markets. This
presentation will provide an analysis of recent regional changes in zinc demand and
supply as outlined above and examine the prospects for future zinc demand and the
potential sources of additional refined zinc output globally.
xxiv
PbZn 2020: 9th International Symposium …
chain. The program is aiming to further enhance the reputation of these industries
by adopting a common set of guiding principles, establishing continuous
improvement goals and supporting low- and middle-income countries through
sharing expertise on the environmentally responsible management of lead.
Regional Changes in Refined Zinc Output and Demand
Claire Hassall, CHR Metals Ltd.
Global refined zinc output has increased from 8.9Mt in 2000 to around 11.8Mt in
2019, an increase of almost 3Mt. Only 530kt of this increase occurred outside
China, while China’s output increased by over 2.4Mt. The major expansion in
China’s refined zinc production capacity took place in the ten years to 2010, with
some further moderate increase to 2016, but there has been a net decrease in
capacity since then. Refined zinc usage globally increased from 8.9Mt in 2000 to
12.2Mt in 2019, an increase of 3.3Mt, but China accounted for more than this total
increase, effectively taking away zinc demand from the rest of world. However,
China’s share of global zinc demand is now changing as its economy matures and,
in the last 3 years, China’s demand for zinc has stagnated at best, and in some years
has fallen significantly. Higher costs, more extensive and better enforced environmental regulations and the effect of trade disputes have seen China’s manufacturing industry more constrained, with some Chinese manufacturing companies
now basing activities off-shore, and with other countries now better able to compete
in world markets than in the initial 10–15 years after China’s entry into the WTO at
the end of 2002. The last 9 years have seen 13 zinc smelters outside China close,
with the loss of close to 1Mt of capacity. The last greenfield zinc smelter ex-China
was commissioned in 2010, and capacity expansions have taken place at a number
of plants, notably in South Korea, Mexico, India and Norway, compensating for
capacity losses, but not adding to capacity overall. The next 5 years are expected to
see growth in refined zinc demand concentrated in countries other than China, with
South-Eastern and South Asian countries leading the way. This raises the question
of where and how the additional requirement for refined zinc will be met and
whether China will play any role in supplying zinc to these expanding markets. This
presentation will provide an analysis of recent regional changes in zinc demand and
supply as outlined above and examine the prospects for future zinc demand and the
potential sources of additional refined zinc output globally.
xxiv
PbZn 2020: 9th International Symposium …