Shortages for a fourth year running and historically low stocks of zinc are likely to propel prices of the metal to $3,000 a tonne over coming months, while an end to the US-China trade dispute could spur even more gains.
Benchmark zinc on the London Metal Exchange at around $2 760/t is up around 15% since the start of the year, but stands well below the 10-year high of $3 595.50 seen in February last year.