Zinc consumption continued to remain strong in the Asian region (including India) during January-August 2007 year-on-year, despite higher prices of the non-ferrous metal. | |
| Zinc consumption, during the period, in the region amounted to 3,968,000 tonnes as compared with 3,802,000 tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous year, highlighted Portugal-based global industry body, International Lead and Zinc Study Group. |
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| Zinc is a key input for galvanised steel and is also used in the manufacture of batteries. The key domestic supplier of the metal is Hindustan Zinc. |
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| This strong consumption of zinc has come at a time when its average was $3,520 a tonne on the London Metal Exchange (LME), as compared with $ 2,911.1 a tonne in the January-August period last year. |
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| Zinc currently trades at $2,795 a tonne on LME. Globally, zinc consumption added up to 7,501,000 tonnes during January-August this year, as against 7,250,000 tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous year, the industry body said. |
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| Meanwhile, Hindustan Zinc's production of zinc (refined) was 94,108 tonnes in the September 2007 quarter, as compared with 78,444 tonnes in the quarter last year. |
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