After weak Q4, Hindustan Zinc's prospects hinge on recovery in zinc prices

Lower volumes, weak realisations and higher costs impacted the company's performance in the March quarter

Hindustan Zinc’s March quarter (Q4) operating performance remained impacted by lower mined metal production, weak base metal prices, and cost pressures. 

India’s largest and the world’s second-biggest zinc-lead miner — which is changing its production methodology to underground mining — saw 24 per cent jump in output from underground mines (245,000 tonnes). However, the closure of open cast mining meant total mined production was still down 4 per cent year-on-year. 

Per-tonne zinc and lead prices at $2,702 and $2,036 have improved 3-4 per cent sequentially, but were 21 and 19 per cent lower, respectively, YoY. Thus, while revenues at Rs 5,491 crore