Commodity Origins

Zinc vs Lead

Zinc's biggest producer is China (32%, 2025); Lead's is China (42%, 2025). The latest benchmark prices on file (September 2026) are $4,021/t for zinc and $1,873/t for lead. Their monthly price moves have moderately tracked each other over the 800 months compared (r = 0.49).

Zinc compared with Lead
ZincLead
CategoryMetalsMetals
Top producerChina (32%, 2025)China (42%, 2025)
World production13 million tonnes4.5 million tonnes
Top exporterSpain (9.8%, 2024)India (10%, 2024)
Latest price$4,021/t (September 2026)$1,873/t (September 2026)
12-month change+37%-4%

Price since January 1960, rebased to 100

Each price divided by its own January 1960 value and multiplied by 100, so the two can share one chart regardless of unit. Starts at January 1960 because that is the later of the two series' first published month.

Zinc vs Lead monthly prices, index, Jan 1960 to Sep 2026Line chart of zinc vs lead monthly prices in index from Jan 1960 to Sep 2026: Zinc from 100 to 1,541, peaking at 1,688; Lead from 100 to 909.2, peaking at 1,806.05001,0001,5002,00019601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025index
ZincLead

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Production: FAOSTAT, USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries or the Energy Institute Statistical Review, whichever each commodity page cites. Trade: CEPII BACI, primary HS line. Prices: World Bank Pink Sheet, monthly averages, not investment advice.