Zinc
Mining, production, applications, trade and recycling of zinc – International Lead and Zinc Study Group, USGS and Eurostat data, charts and downloadable data.
The invisible shield · the element of life
Data: International Lead and Zinc Study Group; U.S. Geological Survey; Eurostat · base year 2025 · as of 24 Oct 2026
Overview
Three takeaways
- The world mined about 12.6 Mt of zinc in 2025 (ILZSG) – the fourth most produced metal.
- About 60% of zinc is used to protect steel against corrosion (galvanizing), and construction is the largest end-use market.
- Poland is one of the EU countries with active zinc refining capacity and a net exporter of unalloyed zinc (Eurostat, 2025).
Zinc is a metal that protects, heals and feeds – and does so almost invisibly. As a coating on steel it saves billions of euros' worth of infrastructure from corrosion every day; as a micronutrient it is essential to the life of humans and plants alike; and as an energy carrier it is now entering the world of safe batteries. The world's fourth most-used metal rarely makes headlines, yet its role – from a bridge to a cell of the human body – is fundamental.
Properties
Zinc (Zn) is a bluish-white metal with a moderate melting point (419.5 °C) and a density of about 7.14 g/cm³. Its most important "superpower" is electrochemical: zinc is more electronegative than iron, so in contact with steel it corrodes "first", sacrificing itself to protect the metal beneath. This is precisely the property behind galvanizing. Zinc is also a component of brass (an alloy with copper) and of zinc oxide (ZnO), which is ubiquitous in rubber, cosmetics and medicine.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Zn |
| Atomic number | 30 |
| Atomic weight | 65.37 |
| Melting point | 419.5 °C |
| Boiling point (760 mm Hg) | 907 °C |
| Density (25 °C) | 7,140 kg/m³ |
| Modulus of elasticity | 7 × 10⁴ MN/m² |
| Heat of fusion | 7.32 kJ/mol |
| Heat of vaporization | 115 kJ/mol |
| Colour | bluish-white, lustrous |
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group, The World Zinc Factbook 2024, p. 6.
The ILZSG Factbook recalls several facts that capture the scale of zinc’s presence. It is the 23rd most abundant element in the Earth’s crust and the fourth most commonly used metal – after iron, aluminium and copper. An average car contains about 17–18 kg of zinc: 7–8 kg in body coatings, 9–10 kg in die-cast parts and about 2 kg in the tyres. Zinc is also a key ingredient of sunscreens, and it serves as a material in batteries, gutters and roofing.
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group, The World Zinc Factbook 2024, p. 6.
From brass to galvanizing – a short history
Zinc accompanied civilisation long before it was named. Brass – an alloy of copper and zinc – was known in antiquity, and the metallurgical smelting of zinc was developed in India (c. 12th century) and China. In Europe, zinc was only isolated as a distinct metal in the 18th century, and industrial hot-dip galvanizing – crucial to the Industrial Revolution – was patented in the 19th century. From bells and ornaments, zinc thus moved into the role of the silent guardian of steel infrastructure.
Zinc in health and agriculture – the element of life
Zinc is an essential micronutrient – a component of more than 300 enzymes, crucial for immunity, growth and neurological development, especially in children. An adult body contains only about 2–3 g of zinc (intake about 8–11 mg/day), yet its deficiency is one of the world's greatest nutritional problems: depending on the estimate, it puts between about 17% and one-third of the global population at risk, and the WHO calls it "a public-health problem". According to the IZA's "Zinc Saves Kids" campaign (with UNICEF), the consequences of deficiency are linked to about 450,000 deaths of children under five each year. The roots of the problem lie in the soil: according to the FAO, zinc is the most commonly deficient micronutrient in the world's soils – affecting more than 50% of agricultural soils. Zinc fertilisers are a simple and effective remedy.
WHO data cited by the ILZSG complete this picture. Average dietary zinc intake is 8.8–14.4 mg a day in adults, and reference values range from 6 to 15 mg a day; at 20% bioavailability this implies a need of about 12.5 mg a day. Meat, poultry and fish are the richest sources, while drinking water provides less than 0.2 mg a day. Excessive oral intake causes gastrointestinal symptoms that subside once intake stops. In the workplace, exposure is mainly through inhalation of dust and fumes in smelting, welding and alloy production; in the USA the limit for zinc oxide in workplace air is 5 mg/m³ (OSHA) and 1 mg/m³ for zinc chloride fumes. According to the FAO, nearly half of agricultural soils are zinc-deficient, which is why zinc compounds are added to fertilisers and crop-protection products.
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group, The World Zinc Factbook 2024, pp. 64–67.
Products at the end of their life return as scrap and feed the secondary metal stream.
| Stream | Share |
|---|---|
| Primary metal (from ore) | 70% |
| Secondary metal (from recycling) (recycled share of zinc use) | ~30% |
| First use of zinc, 2024: Galvanizing | 60% |
| First use of zinc, 2024: Zinc alloys | 15% |
| First use of zinc, 2024: Zinc compounds | 11% |
| First use of zinc, 2024: Brass and bronze | 9% |
| First use of zinc, 2024: Semi-manufactures | 4% |
| First use of zinc, 2024: Other | 1% |
Sources: recycled share of zinc use – International Zinc Association (IZA); First use of zinc, 2024 – International Lead and Zinc Study Group, The World Zinc Factbook 2024, p. 36 (ILZSG and International Zinc Association, IZA data – first use of zinc).
The diagram combines data from different publications and years. Stream widths are proportional to the percentage shares; the recycling loop is illustrative.
Market
Where zinc comes from – minerals, deposits and by-products
The principal zinc ore mineral is zinc blende (sphalerite); wurtzite, smithsonite and hemimorphite are less important. Many mines work sulphide ores containing copper, lead and zinc in varying proportions, and processing also recovers silver, indium, germanium, gallium, bismuth, tellurium and cadmium – some of them critical raw materials. In 2023 zinc was mined in 50 countries, and in more than 60 since 1960. Cumulative world concentrate production over 1960–2023 exceeded 521 Mt (zinc content), primary refined zinc output reached 492 Mt and refined zinc usage 526 Mt; most of this metal is still in use.
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group, The World Zinc Factbook 2024, pp. 7, 9, 15 and 26.
The zinc market in 2025 – ILZSG figures
| Stage of the chain | 2025 | Leaders | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mine production (Zn content) | about 12.6 Mt | China 32%, Peru 12%, Australia 9% | +5.4% y/y; peak of about 13.6 Mt in 2015; in 2023, 50 countries, top 10 – 84% |
| Refined zinc production | about 13.8 Mt | China 51%, India, Korea Rep. | +2.1% y/y; record of 13.93 Mt in 2021; in 2023, 30 countries, secondary 13% |
| Refining capacity | 17.1 Mt (2023) | China 48%, EU (12 countries) ~16% | utilisation 81.5%; secondary capacity 912 kt |
| Refined zinc usage | about 13.9 Mt | China 51%, Europe 14%, USA 6% | +1.9% y/y; market deficit of about 33 kt; 1.70 kg per capita worldwide (2023) |
Sources: International Lead and Zinc Study Group, press release of 24 February 2026, “Review of Trends in 2025 – Zinc” (preliminary 2025 data; shares calculated from the ILZSG table); refining capacity, number of countries, secondary share and per-capita usage – International Lead and Zinc Study Group, The World Zinc Factbook 2024, pp. 10, 12, 16, 19–24 and 29–33 (2023 data).
Market and production – geography and prices
According to preliminary data from the International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG), world zinc mine production in 2025 was about 12.6 million tonnes, 5.4% more than a year earlier. The leader is China (about 4.1 million t and reserves of about 60 million t), with Peru (about 1.5 million t) and Australia (about 1.1 million t) in the top tier; Australia holds the world's largest reserves (about 64 million t). World reserves reach about 240 million t and resources about 1.9 billion t – zinc supply is therefore relatively diversified.
| Country | Mine 2025 (kt) | Reserves (kt) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 4,066 | ~60,000 | Largest producer; dominant in smelting |
| Peru | 1,506 | ~18,000 | Leading concentrate exporter |
| Australia | 1,131 | ~64,000 | World's largest reserves |
| India | 874 | ~10,000 | Growing output |
| Mexico | 776 | ~14,000 | Major Latin American producer |
| World | 12,586 | ~240,000 | Resources approx. 1.9 bn t |
Sources: mine output – International Lead and Zinc Study Group, press release of 24 February 2026, “Review of Trends in 2025 – Zinc” (preliminary 2025 data, Zn content); reserves – U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 – Zinc (rounded). The USGS estimates world mine output in 2025 at about 13.0 Mt.
World refined zinc production rose by 2.1% in 2025 to about 13.8 million tonnes – solely thanks to China (+6.1%); outside China it fell by 1.6%, partly owing to the closure of the Annaka smelter in Japan and the temporary suspension of the Seokpo smelter in Korea Rep. Usage rose by 1.9% to about 13.9 million t, so the market closed in a small deficit of about 33 thousand t (about 69 thousand t in 2024). The average LME cash price rose by 3.3% in 2025 to about USD 2,870/t. In its October 2026 forecast, the ILZSG expects mine production to fall by 2.6% to 12.40 million t in 2026, refined zinc production to rise to 13.93 million t and usage to 14.02 million t – a deficit of about 88 thousand t.
Mining – countries and companies
Zinc mine output grew almost without interruption from 3.4 Mt in 1960 to over 12 Mt in 2010; after peaking at about 13.6 Mt in 2015 it has fluctuated between 12 and 13 Mt. Until 1990 Europe and the Americas dominated, and over 1990–2010 Asian output roughly doubled every ten years. Twelve companies with capacity above 200 kt a year hold 42% of world mining capacity; Glencore has the largest.
| Share of mine output 2023 | Company | Capacity 2023 (kt Zn) |
|---|---|---|
| China 33% | Glencore | ~1,180 |
| Peru 12% | Hindustan Zinc | ~940 |
| Australia 9% | Teck Resources | ~600 |
| India 7% | Nexa Resources | ~550 |
| United States 6% | Zijin Mining | ~430 |
| Mexico 5% | Vedanta Zinc International | ~390 |
| Bolivia 4% | Volcan Compañía Minera | ~360 |
| Kazakhstan 3% | Boliden | ~350 |
| Russia 2% | New Century Resources | ~265 |
| Sweden 2% | MMG | ~255 |
| South Africa 1% | Industrias Peñoles | ~240 |
| Others 15% | Minera San Cristóbal (Sumitomo) | ~225 |
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group, The World Zinc Factbook 2024, pp. 10–14. Company capacities read from the chart and rounded.
Smelting – refined zinc producers
In 2023, 30 countries produced refined zinc, and in 16 of them output exceeded 200 kt. World refining capacity stood at 17.1 Mt at year-end (16.2 Mt primary and 912 kt secondary), with utilisation of 81.5%. China held 48% of capacity, the rest of Asia (Korea Rep., India, Japan, Kazakhstan) 16%, and the 12 European Union countries with active smelters about 16%. The highest output on record, 13.89 Mt, was reached in 2021.
| Rank | Country | Refined zinc production 2023 (kt) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 6,850 |
| 2 | Korea Rep. | 862 |
| 3 | India | 836 |
| 4 | Spain | 520 |
| 5 | Canada | 504 |
| 6 | Japan | 485 |
| 7 | Australia | 467 |
| 8 | Mexico | 363 |
| 9 | Peru | 346 |
| 10 | Finland | 294 |
| 11 | Kazakhstan | 280 |
| 12 | Belgium | 260 |
| 13 | Netherlands | 239 |
| 14 | Brazil | 231 |
| 15 | United States | 220 |
| 16 | Russia | 204 |
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group, The World Zinc Factbook 2024, pp. 16–22.
Zinc usage – countries, regions and the shift to Asia
Refined zinc usage is resilient to economic swings – in recent decades it dipped only slightly in 2009, 2012 and 2020. Almost all growth since the early 2000s has been in Asia, especially China: over 2004–2023 usage in Asia rose by about 4.4 Mt and in China by about 4.2 Mt, while in the world excluding China it fell by about 1.2 Mt, including about 0.7 Mt in Europe. China uses more zinc than the next nine countries combined. Asia accounts for 71% of usage and 59% of the world population, Africa for 1% of usage and 18% of the population.
| Rank | Country | Refined zinc usage 2023 (kt) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 6,980 |
| 2 | United States | 911 |
| 3 | India | 750 |
| 4 | Korea Rep. | 394 |
| 5 | Belgium | 380 |
| 6 | Japan | 351 |
| 7 | Germany | 344 |
| 8 | Italy | 267 |
| 9 | Türkiye | 266 |
| 10 | Mexico | 250 |
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group, The World Zinc Factbook 2024, pp. 27–35. Changes 2004–2023 and per-capita usage for Belgium and Korea read from the charts.
| Region | Share of usage 2000 | Share of usage 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| China | 8% | 51% |
| Europe | 32% | 15% |
| United States | 28% | 7% |
| India | 2% | 5% |
| Korea Rep. | 5% | 3% |
| Japan | 5% | 3% |
| The rest | 20% | 16% |
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group, The World Zinc Factbook 2024, pp. 27–35. Changes 2004–2023 and per-capita usage for Belgium and Korea read from the charts.
The highest per-capita usage is in Belgium (about 28 kg) and Korea Rep. (about 8 kg) – both are major producers of zinc alloys, most of which are exported.
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group, The World Zinc Factbook 2024, pp. 27–35. Changes 2004–2023 and per-capita usage for Belgium and Korea read from the charts.
Stocks and prices
The annual average LME cash price for zinc rose from about USD 1,900–2,200/t in 2014–2016 to about USD 2,900/t in 2017–2018, fell to about USD 2,300/t in 2020 and reached about USD 3,500/t in 2022. It averaged about USD 2,650/t in 2023, 126.0 cents per pound (about USD 2,780/t) in 2024 and USD 2,870/t in 2025 (high of USD 3,351/t on 2 December, low of USD 2,521/t on 17 April). Stocks held by producers, consumers and LME warehouses fell from about 1.2 Mt at the end of 2014 to about 0.55 Mt in 2019 and 2022, then rose to about 0.71 Mt at the end of 2023. Total stocks reported by the ILZSG – held by producers, consumers and merchants, in LME and Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) warehouses and in China’s state reserve – fell by 77 kt in 2025 to 739 kt.
Sources: International Lead and Zinc Study Group, The World Zinc Factbook 2024, p. 62 (2014–2023 values read from the chart and rounded); U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 – Zinc (2024; conversion 1 cent/lb = USD 22.046/t); International Lead and Zinc Study Group, press release of 24 February 2026, “Review of Trends in 2025 – Zinc” (2025: average, extremes and stocks).
Applications
Applications – the use structure
Zinc's use profile is clearly dominated by a single application – galvanizing (about 60%). Next come zinc alloys (die-casting), zinc compounds (chiefly zinc oxide), brass and bronze, and semi-manufactures. It is a metal of dual nature: at once the "industrial guardian" of steel and a versatile chemical ingredient.
| Application | Share (world, 2024) | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Galvanizing | ~60% | Steel corrosion protection (zinc coating) |
| Zinc alloys | ~15% | Die-casting |
| Zinc compounds | ~11% | Zinc oxide (ZnO): rubber, cosmetics, medicine |
| Brass and bronze | ~9% | Alloys with copper |
| Semi-manufactures | ~4% | Sheet, wire, profiles |
| Other | ~1% | Incl. fertilisers, chemicals |
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group, The World Zinc Factbook 2024, p. 36 (ILZSG and International Zinc Association, IZA data – first use of zinc).
A second view – by end market – shows where zinc ultimately goes. Half of use goes to construction, a fifth to transport and 15% to infrastructure. Properties determine applications: reactivity with iron and electrochemical corrosion resistance lie behind steel protection, a low melting point and fluidity behind casting, alloying characteristics behind brass, and chemical and nutritional properties behind zinc oxide in rubber, animal feed, fertilisers and pharmaceuticals.
| End-use sector | Share | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 50% | Steel structures, sheet, roofing, gutters |
| Transport | 20% | Galvanized car bodies, die-castings, tyres |
| Infrastructure | 15% | Bridges, power pylons, crash barriers |
| Industrial machinery | 7% | Equipment and machine parts |
| Household appliances | 6% | Casings, fittings, cast components |
| Miscellaneous | 2% | Other uses |
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group, The World Zinc Factbook 2024, pp. 36–37.
Galvanizing – the invisible anti-corrosion shield
Zinc's most important role is protecting steel from corrosion. In galvanizing (usually hot-dip), the zinc coating acts as a sacrificial anode: because zinc is more electronegative than iron, it corrodes first and protects the steel even where the coating is damaged (cathodic protection). Thanks to this, bridges, power-line towers, crash barriers and steel structures last decades longer. It is "silent" engineering of enormous value: a small amount of zinc extends the life of tonnes of steel and defers the cost of replacing it. In the automotive industry, the continuous galvanizing of sheet protects car bodies, and in construction and energy – all infrastructure exposed to the weather.
The idea of galvanizing was proposed by the French chemist Paul Jacques Malouin in 1742 and became widespread after Stanislas Sorel patented the process in 1836. Protection works in two ways – as a barrier and sacrificially: the dense alloy layer, chemically bonded to the steel, corrodes in preference to it. Today several techniques are used, chosen according to the shape and size of the product.
| Technique | How it works | Typical products |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous hot-dip galvanizing | Steel strip passes through a zinc bath at up to 150 m/min; lines exceed 600 kt of coated sheet a year and are run by integrated steelmakers | Car bodies, household appliances, corrugated sheet |
| Batch (general) hot-dip galvanizing | Immersion of fabricated parts; a fragmented industry with plants close to customers; full coverage including interiors and recesses | Structural steel, bolts, nails, profiles |
| Electrogalvanizing and zinc plating | Zinc deposited from an electrolyte; a thin coating (up to 9.1 µm on sheet, up to 25 µm on small parts) with an excellent finish | Sheet, fasteners, springs, hardware |
| Zinc thermal spraying | Zinc or alloy sprayed onto blasted steel; variable thickness on different areas, can be done on site | Large structures, coating repairs |
| Zinc-rich paint | Mechanically bonded coating; with a high zinc-dust content it also gives cathodic protection | Maintenance of structures |
| Mechanical plating | Zinc powder peened onto the surface in a drum with glass beads | High-strength fasteners |
| Sherardizing | Diffusion of zinc vapour in a rotating drum above 300 °C; a hard, uniform coating | Small parts of complex shape |
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group, The World Zinc Factbook 2024, pp. 38–46.
Die-castings, brass, rolled zinc and chemicals
Zinc casting alloys contain aluminium (tensile and impact strength), small amounts of copper (hardness) and traces of magnesium (offsetting impurities such as lead, cadmium and tin); they allow thin-walled shapes to be cast precisely and cheaply – from door handles and car parts to telecom equipment housings that shield against electromagnetic interference. Brass contains 5–45% zinc: at 32–39% it is well suited to hot working, above 39% it is stronger but less ductile, and added tin inhibits dezincification. Rolled zinc for façades, roofs and gutters lasts up to 100 years thanks to its self-forming patina and is recyclable. Among chemicals, zinc oxide dominates (animal feed, pharmaceuticals, rubber and tyres, ceramics, electronics), zinc sulphate goes into fertilisers and feed, and zinc powder into, among others, solution purification in electrolytic zinc plants and alkaline batteries.
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group, The World Zinc Factbook 2024, pp. 47–50.
Energy storage and new technologies
A forward-looking chapter of zinc's story is being written in energy. Zinc batteries – zinc-air, zinc-ion, nickel-zinc and zinc-bromine – are a promising, emerging technology for stationary energy storage. Their advantages are safety (an aqueous electrolyte, with none of the fire risk typical of lithium-ion cells), low cost, an abundant raw material and recyclability.
| Technology | Characteristics | Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Zinc-air (Zn-air) | High energy density, low cost | Hearing aids, multi-hour storage |
| Zinc-ion (Zn-ion) | Aqueous electrolyte, safety | Stationary storage, grid |
| Nickel-zinc (Ni-Zn) | Non-flammable, high power | Backup power, data centres |
| Zinc-bromine (Zn-Br) | Flow battery, scalable | Grid storage |
Source: U.S. Department of Energy; scientific reviews (emerging technologies, indicative characteristics).
As the share of renewables grows, so does demand for safe, multi-hour energy storage and non-flammable backup power (e.g. in data centres) – niches where zinc can complement, and in places replace, lithium. This is at once a new, strategic source of demand for a metal until now associated chiefly with protecting steel.
Trade
Trade – concentrates and refined zinc in 2023
More than 60 countries take part in trade in zinc ores and concentrates, and more than 80 in refined zinc. Nearly 90% of world concentrate imports go to Asia and Europe; the Americas and Oceania are net exporters. China is the largest concentrate importer (about 2.25 Mt of zinc in 2023), ahead of Korea Rep. and Japan, and in Europe Belgium, Spain and Finland lead. Part of the supply to Belgium and the Netherlands passes through Antwerp and Rotterdam and is re-exported. In refined zinc trade, the United States is the largest importer and Korea Rep. the largest exporter.
| Rank | Concentrate exports (kt Zn) | Refined zinc imports (kt) | Refined zinc exports (kt) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peru ~1,080 | United States ~695 | Korea Rep. ~510 |
| 2 | Australia ~840 | China ~380 | Netherlands ~435 |
| 3 | United States ~640 | Germany ~345 | Belgium ~400 |
| 4 | Bolivia ~490 | Netherlands ~315 | Spain ~380 |
| 5 | Mexico ~350 | Belgium ~310 | Canada ~360 |
| 6 | Belgium ~310 | Türkiye ~280 | Peru ~275 |
| 7 | Portugal ~210 | India ~210 | India ~270 |
| 8 | Sweden ~170 | Italy ~160 | Finland ~258 |
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group, The World Zinc Factbook 2024, pp. 51–60. 2023 values read from the charts and rounded; concentrates in zinc content.
Trade in 2024–2026 – more recent data
China remains the hub of concentrate trade: according to preliminary ILZSG data, its imports of zinc contained in concentrates rose by 29.8% to 2,575 kt in 2025, while net imports of refined zinc fell by 51.1% to 210 kt. In the first half of 2026, imports of zinc in concentrates rose by 8.3% to 1,324 kt, while net imports of refined zinc fell to 39 kt from 180 kt a year earlier – reflecting new smelting capacity in China. In the USA, refined zinc imports were 705 kt in 2023, 590 kt in 2024 and about 600 kt in 2025 according to the U.S. Geological Survey, with concentrate exports of about 630–660 kt of zinc a year; net import reliance for refined zinc is 73%, and Canada is the main supplier (57% over 2021–2024).
Sources: International Lead and Zinc Study Group, press releases of 24 February, 17 June and 26 August 2026; U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 – Zinc (February 2026; 2025 data estimated).
Complete customs data for 2025 are available for the European Union. Imports of zinc concentrates from outside the EU are rising: 1.60 Mt in 2023, 1.96 Mt in 2024 and 2.11 Mt in 2025 (concentrate weight, worth EUR 2.24 bn). In unwrought, unalloyed zinc (the equivalent of refined zinc) the EU is a net exporter outside its borders – in 2025 it shipped out 365 kt and brought in 164 kt. The largest concentrate importers in the EU are Belgium, Spain and Finland, and the largest zinc exporters are the Netherlands, Spain and Belgium.
| Country | Concentrate imports 2023 (kt) | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 976 | 900 | 1,108 |
| Spain | 791 | 767 | 858 |
| Finland | 608 | 577 | 594 |
| Netherlands | 420 | 335 | 489 |
| Germany | 45 | 231 | 292 |
| France | 251 | 267 | 285 |
| Poland | 168 | 161 | 180 |
| Bulgaria | 84 | 89 | 88 |
Source: Eurostat, Comext database (DS-045409, “EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8”), as of 16 October 2026; HS codes 2608 (zinc ores and concentrates) and 7901.11 and 7901.12 (unwrought zinc, not alloyed); net weight of goods – concentrates as concentrate weight (not zinc content), totals including intra-EU trade.
| Country | Unalloyed zinc exports 2023 (kt) | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 422 | 420 | 445 |
| Spain | 356 | 375 | 356 |
| Belgium | 396 | 400 | 300 |
| Finland | 259 | 253 | 245 |
| Germany | 34 | 77 | 88 |
| France | 61 | 89 | 77 |
| Poland | 75 | 81 | 70 |
| Bulgaria | 73 | 68 | 67 |
Source: Eurostat, Comext database (DS-045409, “EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8”), as of 16 October 2026; HS codes 2608 (zinc ores and concentrates) and 7901.11 and 7901.12 (unwrought zinc, not alloyed); net weight of goods – concentrates as concentrate weight (not zinc content), totals including intra-EU trade.
Recycling
Recycling and the circular economy
Like all metals, zinc is 100% recyclable without loss of properties. About 30% of the zinc in use already comes from recycling, and it is recovered, among other sources, from galvanizing residues and – of particular importance for the industry – from electric-arc-furnace (EAF) dust generated in steelmaking. Recycling zinc closes the loop between the ferrous and non-ferrous industries and eases pressure on primary mining.
ILZSG statistics make it possible to refine this picture. In 2023 about 13% of refined zinc was produced from secondary materials – scrap, EAF dust and galvanizing residues; secondary refining capacity was 912 kt, or 5.3% of world capacity, but primary smelters also process secondary feed. Secondary output in Asia has held at about 1 Mt for five years, and in the USA it rose in 2020–2021 after the restart of the American Zinc Recycling plant at Mooresboro. The 13% share concerns refined zinc only: substantial quantities of zinc return to use without refining – by remelting sheet and die-castings and by the direct use of scrap in brass and chemicals production.
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group, The World Zinc Factbook 2024, pp. 21 and 23–25.
Zinc, regulation and raw-material security
Unlike copper and aluminium, zinc is not on the EU critical raw materials list – its supply is relatively diversified geographically. It nonetheless remains an economically important raw material, and the authoritative source of market data is the International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG); zinc compounds are covered by the EU REACH Regulation. A structural market deficit and the concentration of processing in China mean that the security of zinc supply remains significant for the European steel and automotive industries – hence the growing role of recycling and of domestic smelting capacity.
Poland
Poland in ILZSG and Eurostat statistics
Poland is a member government of the International Lead and Zinc Study Group, and Poland’s representative serves as vice-chairperson of the Statistical and Forecasting Committee. Poland is one of the 12 European Union countries with active zinc refining capacity and is listed among Europe’s main concentrate importers (about 80 kt of contained zinc in 2023 according to the ILZSG). Eurostat data for 2025 show 180 kt of concentrates imported (concentrate weight, worth EUR 164 m), three-quarters from outside the EU, as well as 70 kt of unalloyed zinc exported and 37 kt imported. Poland is thus a net exporter of the metal – in 2025 its exports were worth EUR 195 m.
Sources: International Lead and Zinc Study Group, The World Zinc Factbook 2024, pp. 3, 22, 55 and 69 (concentrate imports read from the chart); Eurostat, Comext (DS-045409), HS 2608, 7901.11 and 7901.12.
The Polish context
Poland has a special, centuries-old relationship with zinc. Upper Silesia was a historic zinc-lead district, but ore mining (the Olkusz and Bukowno area) has largely ceased as the deposits were depleted. Today the Polish zinc industry rests on smelting and recycling: it comprises the ZGH „Bolesław" Group (within Stalprodukt) and Huta Cynku „Miasteczko Śląskie" – the only smelter outside Asia using the Imperial Smelting Process (ISP), producing both zinc and lead and recovering zinc, lead, cadmium and silver from steelmaking dusts. The Polish zinc group accounts for about 7% of the European market, and its profile – smelting plus recycling from steelmaking waste – fits squarely into the circular economy.
Data and sources
Datasets
Every chart in this profile has table and source views and the buttons “Download CSV”, “Copy CSV” and “Cite”. The full list of datasets is below.
| Dataset | Year | Tab | CSV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc mine output and reserves – largest producers, 2025 | 2025 | Market | |
| First use of zinc, 2024 | 2024 | Applications | |
| Zinc end-use markets | 2023 | Applications | |
| Refined zinc production – 16 largest producers, 2023 | 2023 | Market | |
| Refined zinc usage – 10 largest consumers, 2023 | 2023 | Market | |
| Regional shares of zinc usage: 2000 and 2023 | 2023 | Market | |
| Zinc concentrate imports into EU countries, 2023–2025 (kt) | 2025 | Trade | |
| Unalloyed zinc exports from EU countries, 2023–2025 (kt) | 2025 | Trade |
Figures in the tiles
| Indicator | Value | Source and year | Publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| world mine production (4th metal) | ~12.6 Mt | ILZSG · 2025 | ILZSG, Review of Trends in 2025 – Zinc (press release, 24 February 2026) |
| galvanizing share of use | ~60% | ILZSG/IZA | ILZSG; International Zinc Association |
| of population at risk of deficiency (WHO) | ~1/3 | WHO | World Health Organization |
| of farm soils zinc-deficient (FAO) | >50% | FAO | FAO |
| recycled zinc (100% recyclable) | ~30% | IZA | International Zinc Association |
| Polish group of EU market | ~7% | – | – |
Method notes
- The profile combines data from different years: the market balance, mine and refined output for 2025 – International Lead and Zinc Study Group (preliminary data of February 2026), reserves – U.S. Geological Survey (Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026); Eurostat customs data for 2023–2025. The breakdown by country, application and refining capacity comes from The World Zinc Factbook 2024 (2023 data) – the latest such ILZSG compilation; the data year is given with each chart.
- Tiles carry a source and year tag; the same figure in a tile, the text and a table comes from a single record.
Bibliography
- International Lead and Zinc Study Group (2024), The World Zinc Factbook 2024. www.ilzsg.org
- International Lead and Zinc Study Group, Review of Trends in 2025 – Zinc, press release of 24 February 2026. www.ilzsg.org/wp-content/uploads/3.PRESS%20RELEASES/ILZSG%20February%202026%20Zn.pdf
- International Lead and Zinc Study Group, press releases of 17 June, 26 August and 19 October 2026.
- U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 – Zinc. pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-zinc.pdf
- Eurostat, Comext (DS-045409).
- International Zinc Association (IZA).
How to cite
Economic Chamber of Non-Ferrous Metals and Recycling, Knowledge base – Zinc. https://igmnir.org/en/knowledge/zinc/ (data as of 24 Oct 2026).
Source: International Lead and Zinc Study Group (2024), The World Zinc Factbook 2024, Lisbon, Portugal (www.ilzsg.org). This translation/adaptation was independently created and is not endorsed by the International Lead and Zinc Study Group. It should not be regarded as an official translation or adaptation by the ILZSG, and the Group assumes no responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies.