The zinc market size was valued at 13.78 Million tons in 2025 and is estimated to grow from 13.93 Million tons in 2026 to reach 15.06 Million tons by 2031, at a CAGR of 1.57% during the forecast period (2026-2031). This report is Segmented by Form (Refined Zinc (Slab), Zinc Alloys, and More), Production Process (Primary Production, Secondary Production), Application (Galvanizing, Die-Casting, and More), End-User Industry (Construction, Transportation, Consumer Goods, and More), and Geography (Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle-East and Africa). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Volume (Tons).
Secondary zinc enjoys policy tailwinds from CBAM credits and corporate Scope 3 targets. Integrated miners are therefore pivoting toward compounds and alloys that earn double-digit premiums, diversifying revenue away from commodity slabs amid persistent Chinese oversupply.
Primary production held 65.62% of output in 2025, but its 1.5-2.5 t CO₂ tZn footprint faces escalating carbon costs. Mine delays and the fact that the top ten sites supply 40% of concentrates add another layer of risk. Conversely, secondary production (recycling) is growing at 2.71% CAGR capture zinc market share as hydrometallurgical leaching upgrades recovery from EAF dust and brass skimmings. European Waelz kilns now process 500,000 t of waste annually, and India is adding capacity to process 4 million t of dust generated by its steel sector.
North America benefits from the U.S. infrastructure law and Canada’s low-carbon Trail smelter upgrade. South32’s Hermosa project will add 150,000 t of refined output in 2027, reducing import reliance. Mexico’s export-oriented auto lines keep galvanizers running near capacity, anchoring regional zinc flows.
Europe’s CBAM, enforceable from 2026, lifts demand for certified low-carbon metal from Nyrstar, Boliden, and other compliant smelters. At the same time, Implementing Decisions 2024/367-368 compel plumbing manufacturers to validate zinc release below 5 mg L under the revised Drinking Water Directive, spurring alloy reformulations.
Global Zinc Market Trends and Insights
Infrastructure-Led Galvanizing Demand Surge
Multiyear public-capital programs are locking in visibility for galvanizers across Asia and North America. India’s USD 1.4 trillion National Infrastructure Pipeline, ASEAN expressway corridors, and the U.S. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act require hundreds of thousands of tons of coated steel that must comply with ISO 1461 and ASTM A123 thickness norms. Galvanized coatings deliver service lives of 50-100 years in rural zones, cementing their status as the preferred corrosion barrier where lifecycle economics dominate.Growth of Corrosion-Resistant Steel in EV and Renewables
Battery-electric platforms specify Zn-Ni and Zn-Mg alloy coatings to withstand road salt and thermal cycling, while offshore-wind monopiles rely on hot-dip galvanizing plus organic topcoats to fight chloride attack. Although thinner high-strength steels reduce coating per ton, total coated-steel tonnage rises fast enough to maintain volume growth, reinforcing long-run support for the zinc market.Stringent Environmental and ESG Regulations
CBAM certificates priced near EUR 85 tCO₂ raise landed costs for non-EU refined zinc by USD 130-240 t. China’s dual-carbon roadmap shut 30 small smelters in 2024, erasing 200,000 t of capacity and underscoring a shift toward low-emission supply that already trades at 3-5% premiums. Scope 3 audits under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive elevate certified smelters and disadvantage high-carbon peers.Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:
- Expansion of Zinc-Based Fertilizers in Micronutrient-Deficient Soils
- Emergence of Zinc-Ion and Zinc-Air Batteries
- Fertilizer Heavy-Metal Limits Curbing Zinc Sulfate
Segment Analysis
Refined zinc (slab) controlled 72.21% of 2025 volume, underpinning galvanizing, die-casting, and brass-mill demand. In contrast, zinc compounds will rise at 2.89% CAGR, buoyed by zinc-oxide activators in tires, UV-blocking pharmaceutical grades, and transparent-conductor films for flexible electronics. The zinc market size linked to recycled feed is widening as Waelz-kiln expansions in Europe and India reclaim oxide from electric-arc-furnace dust at 75% lower CO₂ intensity.Secondary zinc enjoys policy tailwinds from CBAM credits and corporate Scope 3 targets. Integrated miners are therefore pivoting toward compounds and alloys that earn double-digit premiums, diversifying revenue away from commodity slabs amid persistent Chinese oversupply.
Primary production held 65.62% of output in 2025, but its 1.5-2.5 t CO₂ tZn footprint faces escalating carbon costs. Mine delays and the fact that the top ten sites supply 40% of concentrates add another layer of risk. Conversely, secondary production (recycling) is growing at 2.71% CAGR capture zinc market share as hydrometallurgical leaching upgrades recovery from EAF dust and brass skimmings. European Waelz kilns now process 500,000 t of waste annually, and India is adding capacity to process 4 million t of dust generated by its steel sector.
Complete Report Scope:
- By Form
- Refined Zinc (Slab)
- Zinc Alloys
- Zinc Compounds (Oxide, Sulfate, etc.)
- Secondary/Recycled Zinc
- By Production Process
- Primary Production (Mining and Smelting)
- Secondary Production (Recycling)
- By Application
- Galvanizing
- Die-Casting
- Brass
- Zinc Oxide and Chemicals
- Other Applications
- By End-user Industry
- Construction
- Transportation
- Electrical and Electronics
- Consumer Goods
- Other End-user Industries
- By Geography
- Asia-Pacific
- China
- India
- Japan
- South Korea
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- Rest of Asia-Pacific
- North America
- United States
- Canada
- Mexico
- Europe
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- Italy
- France
- Russia
- Spain
- Turkey
- NORDIC Countries
- Rest of Europe
- South America
- Brazil
- Argentina
- Colombia
- Rest of South America
- Middle-East and Africa
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
- Qatar
- South Africa
- Egypt
- Nigeria
- Rest of Middle-East and Africa
- Asia-Pacific
Geography Analysis
Asia-Pacific accounted for 62.86% of global tonnage in 2025 and is set for the highest 2.50% CAGR as China’s grid-modernization and India’s USD 1.4 trillion infrastructure pipeline absorb coated steel. ASEAN mega-projects such as Indonesia’s Nusantara capital city multiply galvanized demand, while Japan and South Korea supply Zn-Al-Mg coating know-how. Regulatory pushes, China’s dual-carbon smelter closures, and India’s soil-health fertilizer incentives reinforce regional consumption.North America benefits from the U.S. infrastructure law and Canada’s low-carbon Trail smelter upgrade. South32’s Hermosa project will add 150,000 t of refined output in 2027, reducing import reliance. Mexico’s export-oriented auto lines keep galvanizers running near capacity, anchoring regional zinc flows.
Europe’s CBAM, enforceable from 2026, lifts demand for certified low-carbon metal from Nyrstar, Boliden, and other compliant smelters. At the same time, Implementing Decisions 2024/367-368 compel plumbing manufacturers to validate zinc release below 5 mg L under the revised Drinking Water Directive, spurring alloy reformulations.
List of Companies Covered in this Report:
- Boliden Group
- Glencore
- Grupo Mexico
- Hudbay Minerals Inc.
- IVANHOE MINES
- KOREAZINC
- MMG Australia Limited
- Nexa
- Nyrstar
- South32
- Teck Resources Limited
- Vedanta Limited
- Volcan
Additional Benefits:
- The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
- 3 months of analyst support
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
4 Market Landscape
5 Market Size and Growth Forecasts (Volume)
6 Competitive Landscape
7 Market Opportunities and Future Outlook
Companies Mentioned (Partial List)
A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:
- Boliden Group
- Glencore
- Grupo Mexico
- Hudbay Minerals Inc.
- IVANHOE MINES
- KOREAZINC
- MMG Australia Limited
- Nexa
- Nyrstar
- South32
- Teck Resources Limited
- Vedanta Limited
- Volcan
