Zinc is a chemical element that makes up approximately 0.0004% of the earth’s crust, making it the 24th most abundant element on earth. Although, some sources describe it as the twenty-third most abundant element in the crust of the earth.
Quick Overview of Zinc
✔️A brief overview of zinc (Zn)
✔️History of zinc
✔️How to trade zinc
Price drivers of zinc
Applications and uses of zinc
Conclusion
A brief overview of zinc (Zn)
One explanation for the element’s name is that it originates from the German word ‘Zinke,’ meaning ‘spiked,’ referring to the spiked shapes of the zinc crystals. Another explanation is that it derives from the German word ‘Zinn,’ which means tin.
Zinc is identified by the chemical symbol, Zn, in the periodic table, grouped together in group 12 with three other chemical elements, namely cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and copernicium (Cn).
Its atomic number is 30, meaning there are 30 protons and 30 electrons in the atomic structure.
Other characteristics, amongst others, of zinc, are:
- Colour: Different descriptions are used to describe the appearance of zinc, such as bluish-white, grey metallic with the ability to be polished to a silver shine, or silvery-greyish when oxidation is removed.
- Melting point: 420° C (787° F), which is a relatively low melting point for a metal.
- Boiling point: 907° C (1 665° F).
- It is a reasonable conductor of electricity.
- It becomes malleable between 100 and 150° Celsius.
Zinc is the fourth most used metal in the world, following steel, aluminium (aluminum), and copper.
In 2025, the three largest global producers of zinc were China (4 200 metric tonnes), Peru (1 600 MT), and Australia (1 300 MT), followed by India and the USA. (According to Statista.) China produces almost 40% of the annual global supply of metal.
However, the largest zinc mine, the Rampura Agucha Mine, in the world is located in India, followed by the Red Dog Mine in Alaska, and the Antamina Mine in Peru. Zinc mines occur in more than 50 countries around the world. In South Africa, the Gamsberg Zinc Mine near Aggeneys in the Northern Cape, is an open pit mine, exploiting ‘one of the largest known, undeveloped zinc orebodies in the world,’ according to Mindat.org.
Statista’s statistics indicate that approximately 13 700 metric tonnes of refined zinc were produced globally in 2025. This was 93 metric tonnes less than the high of 13 802 MT in 2015.
Zinc does not occur in pure form in the earth’s crust. It is found in a variety of ores, of which zinc blende, also called zinc sulfide or zinc sulphide, is the most important ore of zinc, containing a zinc concentration of approximately 61%. Zinc sulfide mainly occurs in nature as the mineral sphalerite.
Approximately 80 percent of all zinc extracted from the surface of the earth, is mined underground. The remaining 20% of zinc is extracted from open pits or a combination of open pit and underground mining.
Once removed from the earth’s surface, the sulfide concentrates are roasted at a temperature of 950° Celsius, resulting in zinc and iron oxidization. The zinc and iron oxides are reduced to a powder form and then leached in diluted sulfuric acid, creating a zinc sulfate solution. The solution is purified by removing contaminants via filtration. The process ends with the electrolysis of the purified solution. (Electrolysis is defined by the Collins Dictionary as ‘the process of passing an electric current through a substance in order to produce chemical changes in the substance.’)
History of zinc
It is generally known that the German chemist, Andreas Marggraf (1709 – 1782), is credited for isolating zinc in a process of heating a mixture of calamine and carbon in a closed container without copper in 1746, describing the process thoroughly.
However, Marggraf was unaware of the discoveries of Von Swab and Champion in the years before his discovery in 1746. In 1742, a mineralogist from Sweden, Anton von Swab (1702 – 1768), had distilled zinc from calamine. In 1738, a British metallurgist, William Champion (1709 – 1789), patented a process in which distillation was used to extract zinc metal from calamine by using charcoal in a smelter.
(Calamine refers to secondary zinc ore, while carbon, commonly known as charcoal, is a non-metallic chemical element found in nature.)
In 1526, a German-Swiss alchemist and physician, who referred to himself as Paracelsus (1493 -1541), was the first person to use the name ‘zink’ (German for zinc). Apparently, Paracelsus named the metal, ‘zink,’ because of the appearance of its crystals after smelting and the old German word ‘Zinke,’ meaning pointed.
Sidebar: The full name of Paracelcus was Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim. It is no surprise that he preferred a shorter name.
Although not known by the name ‘zinc’ and its true nature not actually understood in ancient times, zinc and zinc alloys have been used for centuries. For example:
- In India, a zinc smelter at Zawar (Zawarmala) in Rajasthan refined zinc on a large scale during the period 1500 – 1100 B.C.
- Zinc ores were commonly used in Palestine to produce brass (an alloy of zinc and copper) during the period 1400 – 1000 B.C. In some specific cases, the brass contained about 23% of zinc.
- There are indications that the ancient Greeks were aware of the existence of zinc, which they referred to as ‘pseudargyras,’ or ‘false silver.’ However, they could not produce it in large quantities.
- The Romans produced significant quantities of the zinc alloy of zinc and copper, known as brass, as early as 200 B.C.
- During the early modern period, during the 1500s, zinc was refined on a large scale in China.
How to trade zinc
Internationally, zinc is primarily traded on the London Metal Exchange (LME). The metal is traded in units of a metric tonne (MT) and prices are indicated in US dollars.
There are several methods available to trade zinc:
- Zinc bullion
Buying or selling zinc bullion in the form of ingots (blocks or bars) is the most direct way to trade zinc. However, for most traders, this method is an impractical proposition because a safe storage facility is required.
- Shares of publicly traded companies
Shares in publicly traded companies that have exposure to zinc prices can be obtained. For example, companies that have invested in zinc mining or zinc processes.
- Traders/investors can trade zinc by using different trading instruments such as Zinc ETFs (exchange-traded funds), Zinc Futures, and CFDs (contracts for difference) on zinc.
Trading with these types of instruments requires a trading platform of a regulated commodity broker like AvaTrade.
10 Best Forex Brokers in South Africa for 2025
Rank
Broker
Review
Regulators
Min Deposit
Official Site
Price drivers of zinc
As of March 30, 2025, the bid price of zinc was $4 134 per MT, and the offer price was $4 134.50 per MT on the London Metal Exchange (LME).
As with all metals, the price of zinc is determined by the supply of and demand for zinc.
Factors influencing the price of zinc are, amongst others:
- The global supply of zinc is a key factor in determining the prices of zinc futures. Over-production will cause prices to promptly fall, resulting in a decline in mining activities, leading eventually to a shortage in supply. This cycle will repeat itself when prices start to increase again to an acceptable level.
- Production and refining processes that become more cost-effective for zinc will also affect zinc prices because more zinc will be produced, which will increase supply and consequently lower the price of the metal. Additionally, input prices regarding electricity, coal, and crude oil, will significantly affect (positively or negatively) the price of zinc.
- The availability of substitutes for zinc can also significantly influence the demand for zinc. Substitutes such as aluminium and magnesium are used as alternatives in die-casting. When the prices of aluminium and magnesium rise, the demand for zinc will increase, and vice versa.
- In the future, limited and dwindling deposits of zinc ore can negatively influence the supply of zinc which will eventually cause zinc prices to rise.
More specifically, the following five factors drive the price of zinc:
- Chinese supply
The pollution problem in China has forced the Chinese government to take a hard look at the mining industry which is part of the pollution problem. If the country restrains the production of zinc, the country will be required to import more zinc, which could drive the prices higher.
- Chinese demand
Zinc prices depend heavily on the demand for zinc in China, which is the main consumer of refined zinc used for the manufacturing of galvanised steel that is used in construction.
- USA demand
The extent to which the US government invests in infrastructure, which requires large quantities of galvanised steel, will also influence the demand for zinc, causing zinc prices to increase.
Applications and uses of zinc
Biological function
Zinc is an essential trace element, also referred to as micronutrient, for living beings such as animals, birds, plants, and humans. It is the second most common trace element, after iron, present in the human body.
The average human body contains approximately 2.5 grams of zinc and needs an average daily intake of about 15 milligrams.
Humans need zinc to stay healthy. For instance, zinc is needed for the immune system of the human body, the senses of smell and taste, healing of wounds, breakdown of carbohydrates, enhancing the action of insulin, and the functioning of the thyroid, to name a few.
Although, zinc toxicity can occur when high levels of zinc are ingested, evident in symptoms like nausea and vomiting, and frequent infections. However, it is unusual to have too much zinc in the human body.
A more pressing problem is zinc deficiency, which is a condition when the quantity of zinc available in the human body is insufficient the meet all the needs. Zinc deficiency occurs worldwide but with greater frequency in developing countries in South East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), as well as in countries such as Egypt, Iran, and Turkey.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that zinc deficiency causes the death of about 800 000 people annually, of which 450 000 are children under the age of five.
Examples of food containing zinc are red meat, shellfish, poultry, and nuts, like cashews and almonds.
Galvanising process
Zinc is primarily used in the galvanising (also spelled galvanizing) process, protecting steel and iron from corrosion.
Galvanising refers to a process in which a thin coat of zinc is applied to a thicker base metal. The zinc can either be applied by dipping an object in a pool of molten zinc, or it can be applied by using an electroplating process, which is the process mostly executed.
Galvanised steel is used for, inter alia, safety barriers on bridges, street lamp posts, car bodies, suspension bridges, and metal roofing.
According to the American Galvanizers Association (AGA), approximately 50% of the annual production of zinc is used for galvanising.
Zinc alloys
Zinc is used to create many useful alloys, which is a substance that contains two or more metals.
The AGA estimates that about seventeen percent of zinc produced annually is used to manufacture zinc alloys.
Examples of zinc alloys are:
- Brass, an alloy of zinc and copper, is probably the most common zinc alloy. Brass is used for locks, hinges, screws, plumbing, and musical instruments, among other usages.
- Solder, an alloy comprising zinc, tin, and lead, is a metal that has a relatively low melting point and is used to join electrical components and pieces of metal such as pipes.
- Nickel silver, also called German silver, is manufactured from 60% copper, 20% nickel, and 20% zinc. The name of the alloy may be misleading, because it does not contain any silver, but has a silvery appearance.
Nickel silver is used in the manufacturing of musical instruments, ornamental silverware, and to create costume jewellery.
Die-casting
Approximately 17% of zinc produced yearly is used to produce zinc die-castings, which are used in the automobile, building, electrical, and hardware industries.
Zinc compounds
- Zinc oxide is used in the manufacturing of several goods such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, paints, batteries, plastics, textiles, soap, and certain rubber products.
- Zinc chloride is applied to protect the wood from insects and decay.
- Zinc sulfide is used to manufacture luminous paints, fluorescent lights, x-ray screens, and television screens.
Recyclable
Zinc is one hundred percent recyclable.
In conclusion
Although only the twenty-fifth most abundant element in nature, zinc is an essential part of our daily lives.
Whether it contributes to our physical wellbeing, the infrastructure of a country, or the quality and performance of our vehicles, the importance of zinc can never be overestimated.
Note: The intention of the article is to inform and not to provide investment or trading advice. Please obtain the advice of a professional and regulated commodity broker before making trading and investment decisions.
RECOMMENDED JSE BROKER
🛡️ Trust Score
97%
Avatrade - #1 JSE Trading Platform
- Time to open Account - Only 12 Hours
- Low Commissions
- Invest in any JSE Top 40 Share
RECOMMENDED JSE BROKER
🛡️ Trust Score
97%
Avatrade - #1 JSE Trading Platform
- Time to open Account - Only 12 Hours
- Low Commissions
- Invest in any JSE Top 40 Share
Top 4 Brokers
