Zinc facts
Zinc is mined, refined and recycled for commercial use in Canada. Beyond its many applications, zinc is also an essential nutrient in the human body.
Key facts
- The primary use of zinc is in the galvanizing process, which protects iron and steel from rusting.
- In 2021, Canada produced 300,207 tonnes of zinc from mines located in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and New Brunswick.
- World mine production of zinc was approximately 12.9 million tonnes in 2021.
Learn more about zinc
Uses
The primary use of zinc is in the galvanizing process, which protects iron and steel from rusting. Zinc can also be alloyed with other metals and used for die-casting into shapes such as door handles, alloyed with copper to make brass, and alloyed with copper and tin to make bronze.
Brass fittings made with zinc are used across Canada in plumbing and heat exchange equipment.
Zinc can also be added to fertilizers to increase crop yields, made into zinc oxide (an ingredient in skin cream), and used in tire manufacturing.
Zinc, global uses, 2021
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This pie chart shows the major global uses of zinc in 2021. The largest use is for galvanizing (60%), followed by die-cast alloy production (15%), brass and castings (14%), oxides and chemicals (8%), and other miscellaneous products (3%).
Production
In 2021, mined zinc production increased in Canada to 310,158 tonnes from 247,534 tonnes in 2020. Generally, Canadian mined zinc production has been steadily decreasing since 2012.
Refined zinc metal production decreased slightly to 640,718 tonnes in 2021, from 680,245 tonnes in 2020. Zinc metal is produced at refineries in British Columbia, Manitoba and Quebec.
Consult a map of producing Canadian mines
Canadian mine production of zinc, 2012–2021 (p)
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This bar graph shows Canada’s annual mine production of zinc from 2012 to 2021. Production was 601,514 tonnes in 2012 and decreased to 275,410 tonnes by 2015. Production increased slightly between 2016 and 2017 before decreasing again to a decade low of 247,534 tonnes in 2020. In 2021, production increased to 310,158 tonnes.
Canadian production of refined zinc, 2012–2021 (p)
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This bar graph shows Canada’s refined production of zinc from 2012 to 2021. Production was 648,619 tonnes in 2012 and remained stable until 2014, when annual production increased reaching 691,389 tonnes by 2016. In 2017, production sharply decreased to a decade low of 598,438 tonnes before rebounding to 696,591 tonnes in 2018. Between 2019 and 2021, production fluctuated with slight decreases and increases, decreasing to 640,718 tonnes in 2021.
International context
World mine production of zinc was 12.9 million tonnes in 2021, which is a 7% increase from the previous year. China was the largest producer of zinc with 4.2 million tonnes or 33% of the global total. Canada ranked eighth, accounting for about 2% of the total.
| Ranking | Country | Thousand tonnes | Percentage of total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 4,200 | 32.6% |
| 2 | Peru | 1,600 | 12.4% |
| 3 | Australia | 1,300 | 10.1% |
| 4 | India | 810 | 6.3% |
| 5 | United States | 740 | 5.7% |
| 6 | Mexico | 720 | 5.6% |
| 7 | Bolivia | 490 | 3.8% |
| 8 | Canada | 310 | 2.4% |
| 9 | Russia | 280 | 2.2% |
| 10 | Sweden | 230 | 1.8% |
| 11 | Kazakhstan | 220 | 1.7% |
| - | Other countries | 2,000 | 15.5% |
| Total | 12,900 | 100.0% |
World mine production of zinc, 2012–2021 (p)
Text version
This bar graph shows the world’s annual mine production of zinc from 2012 to 2021. Production was 13.5 million tonnes in 2012 and decreased annually until reaching 12.5 million tonnes in 2017 and 2018. Production increased slightly to 12.6 million tonnes in 2019, before decreasing to a decade low of 12.1 million tonnes in 2020. In 2021, production increased, rebounding to 12.9 million tonnes.
Global production of refined zinc was estimated to have reached about 14.1 million tonnes in 2021, up 4% from 2020. Canada accounted for 5% of global production in 2021.
World production of refined zinc, 2012–2021 (p)
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This bar graph shows the world’s annual production of refined zinc from 2012 to 2021. Production was 12.6 million tonnes in 2012 and increased to 13.8 million tonnes by 2015. Between 2016 and 2018, production decreased annually to a low of 13.1 million tonnes before increasing again to a decade high of 14.1 million tonnes in 2021.
World reserves
The world’s zinc reserves were estimated at approximately 250 million tonnes in 2021, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Australia, China, Russia, Mexico and Peru were among the nations with the largest zinc reserves. Canada was ninth with 5.4 million tonnes.
World zinc reserves, by country, 2021 (p)
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This circular chart shows the estimated world reserves of zinc in 2021, by country and percentages. Australia had the largest share with 27%, followed by China (18%), Russia (9%), Mexico (8%), Peru (8%), Kazakhstan (5%), India (4%), the United States (4%), Canada (2%), Bolivia (2%), Sweden (1%), and other countries (14%).
Trade
Exports
- Canadian exports of zinc and zinc products in 2021 were valued at $2.3 billion.
- In 2021, Canada exported 627,739 tonnes of zinc products, including ore concentrate, zinc oxide, unwrought zinc and zinc metal products. This is slightly down from 630,008 tonnes in 2020.
- Zinc products were exported primarily to the United States (85%), while combined exports to Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia made up 11%.
Imports
- In 2021, zinc products imported to Canada were valued at $1.4 billion.
- Canadian smelters imported 484,058 tonnes of zinc in concentrates in 2021, compared to 460,279 tonnes in 2020.
- Zinc concentrates accounted for 87% of the value of Canada’s zinc imports.
- Concentrates were imported mainly from the United States (54%), followed by Peru (25%), Australia (9%), Mexico (7%) and Bolivia (5%).
Prices
Average monthly zinc prices generally increased steadily throughout 2021. The price was US$2,705 per tonne in January and increased to US$3,399 per tonne by December, representing a 26% rise in price.
Zinc, average monthly prices, 2012–2021
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This line graph shows the monthly average price in US dollars per tonne of zinc from 2012 to 2021. The average annual price of zinc in 2012 was $1,950 per tonne. In January 2016, the average monthly price of zinc reached a decade low of $1,520 per tonne before increasing to a decade high of $3,533 per tonne in February 2018.
The average monthly price generally decreased again to a low of $1,903 per tonne in April 2020, before increasing again to $3,399 per tonne in December 2021. The average monthly zinc prices for 2021 were $2,705 (January), $2,745 (February), $2,792 (March), $2,829 (April), $2,966 (May), $2,952 (June), $2,948 (July), $2,988 (August), $3,036 (September), $3,360 (October), $3,311 (November), and $3,399 (December).
Recycling
Approximately 37% of worldwide zinc production originates from recycled or secondary zinc. Sources of recycled zinc include scrap galvanized steel and the zinc contained in batteries. Products such as galvanized steel have a long service life, which affects the amount of recyclable material available to the marketplace in any given year.
Notes and sources
(p) preliminary
Totals may be different because of rounding.
All dollars are Canadian unless otherwise indicated.
Uses
- Zinc, global uses, 2021
- International Zinc Association
Production
- Canadian mine production of zinc, 2012-2021 (p)
- Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada
- Canadian production of refined zinc, 2012–2021 (p)
- Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada
- Refined zinc production in 2020 is estimated based on the reported monthly production from February 2020 to December 2020.
International context
- World mine production of zinc, by country, 2021 (p)
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada (Canadian Statistics)
- World mine production of zinc, 2012–2021 (p)
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada (Canadian Statistics)
- World production of refined zinc, 2012–2021 (p)
- International Lead and Zinc Study Group
- World zinc reserves, by country, 2021 (p)
- U.S. Geological Survey
Trade
- Imports and exports of Canadian zinc, 2021 (p)
- Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada
- Mineral trade includes ores, concentrates, and semi- and final-fabricated mineral products.
Prices
- Zinc, average monthly prices, 2012–2021
- World Bank Commodities
Recycling
- International Zinc Association
- Date modified: