Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 24
Chinese Zinc Traders Eye Exports as Shanghai Futures Hit $400-a-Ton Discount
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 24

Chinese Zinc Traders Eye Exports as Shanghai Futures Hit $400-a-Ton Discount

2 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 24

Summary

  • $400 a ton — the gap between Shanghai zinc futures and international prices — has reached its widest since 2022, prompting Chinese traders to watch for an export opening.
  • Chinese producers want overseas sales to help clear a domestic zinc glut, with current pricing already sufficient for spot cargoes to Southeast Asian fabricators.
  • Another roughly $100 a ton of widening is still needed before shipments into London Metal Exchange warehouses become profitable, according to Jinrui Futures analyst Zeng Tong.

Insights

Why are global zinc prices soaring amid supply fears while China is battling a massive domestic surplus?
With profits crushed, can Chinese smelters export their way out of a glut, or will production cuts hit first?