According to forecasts of Nyrstar management in 2015 should be expected to increase the cost of zinc in the world market. The main factor influencing the increase in prices is the closure of the Australian mine Century. According to Heinz Aigner, Director General of Nyrstar, the global market this year will feel like a deficit of zinc concentrate and lack of refined zinc. The resulting deficit will double starting ground for the growth of value of the product.
By results of 2014 the average price of zinc increased by 6%. The impetus served as speculation about the lack of proposals on the background of the demand. Stored in warehouses LME zinc stocks since October 2010 are at the lowest point.
As noted, the main factor that can influence the situation, is the Century mine in Australia. It belongs to Minerals and Metals Group, formed in 2009. The production capacity of the mine is 500 000 tonnes of zinc concentrate. According to preliminary plans, the mine operation will be stopped in the 3 rd quarter 2015. As noted Heinz Aigner as difficulties with the supply can not be afraid. However, after stopping the Century, the market situation will be difficult due to lack of zinc concentrate. 500,000 tons of zinc outflow will have a serious impact.
In 2014, a shortage of metal in the world market amounted to 262,000 tons, reaching a record high since 2013. While, on the contrary, there was a surplus of 95 000 tonnes. Over the past year zinc stocks in LME warehouses decreased by 240 000 tonnes. In general, the global zinc stocks fell by 340 000 tonnes. With the growth of global production of refined zinc by 3.2%, its consumption increased by 6%.
Last year, the global market showed an excess of lead at a level of 30 500 tonnes. In 2013, by contrast, there was a deficit in the amount of 86 000 tonnes. These data were obtained from the World Bureau of Metal Statistics. According to them the world lead production in 2014 reached the level of 10,307,000. Tons. This figure is 2.4% lower than the results of 2013. The specialists did not provide data on the global lead consumption, indicating the volume reduction in the amount of 371 000 tonnes. One of the major consumers of China, in 2014 lowered demand for the metal by 268 000 tonnes, reaching a level of 4.199 million. Tons. This result is 41% of global lead consumption. It is assumed that the cost per lead will increase significantly in the second half of 2015, as the metal is undervalued.