Chinese domestic concentrate treatment charges (TCs) are increasingly a key tracking element in the zinc market where smelting economics are under the microscope more than ever.

Casper Burgering, of ABN Amro, has come in first on Metal Bulletin’s Apex leaderboard for his zinc price predictions in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Fastmarkets MB is delaying the launch of a weekly price assessment of South America import aluminium-zinc alloy coated steel coil reported on a US-dollar-per-tonne cfr South America basis.

Zinc bears are betting that the London Metal Exchange zinc price will fall to $2,500 per tonne in June, with massive orders for put options placed in recent weeks, Fastmarkets learned.

Huge amounts of zinc ingots from Spain, both new and old stock, continue to enter the Chinese market after a significant inflow last year, which is leading to inventory build-up and depressed premiums, market participants have told Metal Bulletin.

MMG Dugald River, a subsidiary of MMG Ltd, has entered into an agreement to sell around 40,000 dry metric tonnes of zinc concentrate per annum to China Minmetals Corp (CMC) subsidiary Minmetals North-Europe from 2019 to 2020.

Following a turbulent first half of the year marked by outbreaks of price volatility, forecasts suggest market sentiment towards London Metal Exchange zinc and lead are set to improve on brighter supply dynamics.

Belgian zinc producer Nyrstar has appointed Darin Cooper as vp of zinc smelting following the departure of Marcos Ramos.

Over-eager zinc bears have contributed to a ballooning backwardation in London Metal Exchange price spreads, having bet prices would drop further and sooner than fundamentals have allowed.

The three-month zinc price on the London Metal Exchange was lower during morning trading on Monday February 24, with price action down by 2.4% and trading at its lowest level since July 2016, while copper futures also fell through nearby support levels.