Zinc (Zn): Uses, Supply Chain and Market
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Zinc is mined and refined mostly to galvanize steel, and zinc ores are also a source of germanium, gallium and indium. In 2025 China produced an estimated 4,100 kt, 32% of world mine production (USGS world total: 13,000 kt), according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). US net import reliance for zinc in 2025 was 73%. Zinc is on the US and Canadian critical minerals lists.
149 cents/lb
zinc, North American, average in 2025 (+3% on 2024)
Which countries produce zinc?
| Country | 2024 | 2025 (estimate) | Share of 2025 world | Reserves (kt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 4,000 | 4,100 | 32% | 60,000 |
| Peru | 1,270 | 1,500 | 12% | 18,000 |
| Australia | 1,100 | 1,100 | 8.5% | 64,000 |
| India | 870 | 870 | 6.7% | 10,000 |
| Mexico | 773 | 780 | 6% | 14,000 |
| United States | 759 | 670 | 5.2% | 9,300 |
| Bolivia | 512 | 500 | 3.8% | NA |
| Russia | 310 | 430 | 3.3% | 29,000 |
| All other countries | 2,349 | 2,590 | 20% | 36,500 |
| World total (USGS, rounded) | 11,900 | 13,000 | 100% | 240,000 |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Zinc. Shares are calculated from the country figures and can differ by a point or two from percentages USGS states in its text, because USGS rounds its figures. NA means not available; Withheld means USGS withheld the figure to avoid disclosing company data.
What is zinc used for?
- Galvanized steel: the leading use of refined zinc, widely in the automobile and construction end markets
- Brass and bronze: the next largest use
- Zinc-base alloys and other uses: USGS gives no percentage split
How much does zinc cost?
| Price | Unit | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc, North American, average | cents per pound | 145.8 | 190.2 | 151.3 | 144.2 | 149 |
| Zinc, London Metal Exchange (LME), cash, average | cents per pound | 136.3 | 158.1 | 120.1 | 126.0 | 130 |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Zinc. The 2025 figures are USGS estimates. Prices are annual averages of the series named in each row, so they are not live quotes.
Is zinc a critical mineral?
Zinc is on the US and Canadian critical minerals lists. Each government builds its list with its own method, so a mineral can be critical in one place and not in another.
| Jurisdiction | Status |
|---|---|
| United States | Critical mineral (final 2025 list) |
| European Union | Not listed |
| Australia | Strategic materials list |
| Canada | Critical |
Lists last checked against the primary publications on October 12, 2026. See the comparison of all four lists.
What are the substitutes for zinc?
| Application | Substitute and trade-off |
|---|---|
| Galvanized sheet in automobiles | Aluminum and plastics |
| Zinc coatings in other applications | Aluminum alloys, cadmium, paint and plastic coatings |
| Zinc-base diecasting alloys | Aluminum- and magnesium-base alloys, the major substitutes |
| Chemical, electronic and pigment uses | Many elements |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Zinc. USGS says substitutes often cost performance or money; the table gives its wording for each application.
Can zinc be recycled?
Refined zinc produced in the United States was recovered from secondary materials at primary and secondary smelters, including galvanizing residues and crude zinc oxide recovered from electric arc furnace dust.
What are the supply risks and recent events for zinc?
- 2025. US zinc mine production fell an estimated 12%, mostly because of lower ore grades at the Red Dog Mine in Alaska as it approached the end of its mine life. The Middle Tennessee zinc mines have been suspended since November 2023, and drilling during the closure aimed to define additional zinc, germanium and gallium resources.
- 2025. Development advanced for several domestic zinc mine projects, including the restart of the Bunker Hill Mine in Idaho and the opening of the Hermosa project in Arizona.
- 2025. The International Lead and Zinc Study Group forecast 2025 world refined zinc production at 13.8 million tons and consumption at 13.7 million, a surplus of 85,000 tons, with significant new refining capacity in China.
US import sources, 2021 to 2024. Refined metal: Canada, 57%; Mexico, 15%; Peru, 8%; Republic of Korea, 7%; and other, 13%. (USGS)
Resources. Identified world zinc resources are about 1.9 billion tons.
Which zinc projects are on official lists?
| Project | State | Expected products | List |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Copper | Montana | Copper, tungsten, gold, zinc, gallium and germanium | Transparency |
| Bronco Creek Exploration Project | Arizona | Copper, lead and zinc (exploration) | Transparency |
| Arctic Project | Alaska | Copper, zinc and lead | Covered |
| Contango Ore Johnson Tract Critical Metals Project | Alaska | Copper, zinc, gold, silver and lead | Covered |
| Red Dog Mine Life Extension Project | Alaska | Zinc, lead, silver and germanium | Covered |
| Doe Run | Missouri | Lead, zinc and copper | Transparency |
Source: Permitting Council, current covered projects and current transparency projects, last updated 2 April 2026.
Which companies produce or process zinc?
| Company | Country | Role | What the source says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glencore | Switzerland (zinc mines in Australia, Peru and Kazakhstan) | Zinc miner and refiner (LSE: GLEN) | Its full year 2025 production report gives own-sourced zinc production of 969,400 tonnes, up 7% on 2024 on higher grades at Antamina and more at McArthur River, and zinc metal production of 910,200 tonnes from its custom metallurgical assets. The Lady Loretta mine in Australia, which made about 110,000 tonnes of zinc in 2025, reached end of life in December 2025. Glencore: full year 2025 production report (29 January 2026) |
| Teck Resources | Canada (Red Dog mine in Alaska; Trail refinery in British Columbia) | Zinc concentrate producer and refiner (TSX: TECK.A, TECK.B; NYSE: TECK) | Its 2025 management's discussion and analysis gives zinc in concentrate of 462,700 tonnes at Red Dog (555,600 in 2024) on lower grades and recoveries, refined zinc of 229,900 tonnes at Trail (256,000), and 102 thousand tonnes of zinc as its share of Antamina (60 thousand). Teck Resources: 2025 management's discussion and analysis (Form 40-F exhibit) |
| Hindustan Zinc | India | Zinc miner and refiner (NSE: HINDZINC) | The CEO letter in its integrated report for the year to March 2026 gives mined metal of 1,114 thousand tonnes, its highest ever, refined metal of 1,048 thousand tonnes (1,052 in FY2025) and refined zinc of 851 thousand tonnes, up 3%. Hindustan Zinc: integrated report 2025-26, CEO letter |
| Yunnan Chihong Zinc & Germanium | China | Lead, zinc and germanium producer (SSE: 600497) | Its 2025 annual report, in Chinese, gives zinc products of 524,800 tonnes in 2025 (291,400 of ingot and 233,400 of alloy), zinc in concentrate of 213,200 tonnes of contained metal, and lead-zinc resources held of more than 32 million tonnes. It says the grades at its Huize and Yiliang mines are 27% and 20%. Yunnan Chihong Zinc & Germanium: 2025 annual report, in Chinese (27 March 2026) |
| Hecla Mining | United States (mines in the US and Canada) | Silver miner producing zinc as a by-product (NYSE: HL) | Its 26 January 2026 production release lists 2025 zinc production of 68,558 tons and a zinc price assumption of $1.30 a pound for its by-product credits. It gives no zinc figure by mine. Hecla: full year 2025 production and 2026 guidance (26 January 2026) |
Each row links to the document that supports it. The list is not exhaustive and is not a ranking.
Frequently asked questions
What is zinc used for?
Zinc is used in galvanized steel, brass and bronze and zinc-base alloys and other uses. Galvanized steel: the leading use of refined zinc, widely in the automobile and construction end markets.
Which country produces the most zinc?
China produces the most zinc: an estimated 4,100 kt, or 32% of the world total, in 2025, according to the USGS mine production figures.
Is zinc a critical mineral?
Yes. Zinc is on the US and Canadian critical minerals lists. Zinc was already on the 2022 US list and stays on the final 2025 list of 60 minerals. US net import reliance for zinc in 2025 was 73%.
How much does zinc cost?
USGS reports the average 2025 price of zinc at 149 cents/lb (zinc, North American, average; +3% on 2024).
Sources
Read on October 14, 2026. Figures on this page come from these documents; where a number is an estimate, the source says so.
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Zinc. Production, reserves, uses, substitutes, recycling and events
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: introduction (Table 7 and Figures 10A and 10B). Net import reliance, leading producer and price changes for critical minerals
- Federal Register: Final 2025 List of Critical Minerals
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2024/1252
- Department of Industry, Science and Resources: Australia’s Critical Minerals List and Strategic Materials List
- Government of Canada: Canada’s critical minerals
- Permitting Council: current FAST-41 projects
- Glencore: full year 2025 production report (29 January 2026)
- Teck Resources: 2025 management's discussion and analysis (Form 40-F exhibit)
- Hindustan Zinc: integrated report 2025-26, CEO letter
- Yunnan Chihong Zinc & Germanium: 2025 annual report, in Chinese (27 March 2026)
- Hecla: full year 2025 production and 2026 guidance (26 January 2026)
