Top 10 Zinc Producing Countries In the World
Zinc is a metallic mineral known since historic times. It is the fourth most utilized metal after iron, aluminium and copper. It is present not only in the earth’s crust but also in water and living organisms including humans. It has received the name after the German word ‘Zinke’. India is reported to be the first country to recognize zinc as a metal. Zinc was in existence since ancient roman times. Ancient evidence predicted that the zinc production in Zawar, Rajasthan dates back to the 9th century. It was rediscovered in Europe in the 16th century. Zinc is a hard bluish-white lustrous metal and becomes soft between 100 to 150o C. Zinc is present in several ores and the most common types are sulfides, carbonates, silicates and oxides. Refining zinc is done by froth flotation of its ore, roasting, and electrowinning.
The top ten zinc producers account for over 80% of the world’s total zinc mine output and about two-third of the known zinc reserves. The world’s zinc reserves were estimated at 250 million tonnes in 2020, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Australia has the largest share of about 28% of world reserves, followed by China with 17%, Peru with 7.1%, Mexico with 6.4%, India with 4.8% and the U.S. with 4.4%. World mine production of zinc was approximately 13.7 million tonnes in 2020. China was the largest producer of zinc with 4.2 million tonnes, producing more than double the next leading producer, Australia. Australia takes second place with about 12% of mine production followed by Peru with 10%, the U.S. with 6% and India with a 5.5% share in total mine production in the world.
The galvanizing industry is the largest consumer accounting for about 50% of total zinc in the world followed by alloys, Brass and chemical industries. Zinc is used in the galvanizing process to protect iron and steel from rusting. Zinc is used to make brass. 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. Zinc can also be added to fertilizers to increase crop yields. It is also used in tire manufacturing.
The top ten zinc producers account for over 80% of the world’s total zinc mine output and about two-third of the known zinc reserves. The world’s zinc reserves were estimated at 250 million tonnes in 2020, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Australia has the largest share of about 28% of world reserves, followed by China with 17%, Peru with 7.1%, Mexico with 6.4%, India with 4.8% and the U.S. with 4.4%. World mine production of zinc was approximately 13.7 million tonnes in 2020. China was the largest producer of zinc with 4.2 million tonnes, producing more than double the next leading producer, Australia. Australia takes second place with about 12% of mine production followed by Peru with 10%, the U.S. with 6% and India with a 5.5% share in total mine production in the world.
The galvanizing industry is the largest consumer accounting for about 50% of total zinc in the world followed by alloys, Brass and chemical industries. Zinc is used in the galvanizing process to protect iron and steel from rusting. Zinc is used to make brass. 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. Zinc can also be added to fertilizers to increase crop yields. It is also used in tire manufacturing.
Scroll through to see all Top 10 Zinc Producing Countries In the World :-
10. Sweden :-
In 2020, Sweden was the second-largest miner of zinc in Europe. That year, Swedish zinc mine production amounted to 260,000 metric tons. Zinc is mined in seven Swedish mines and Sweden accounts for about 36 per cent of Europe’s production. The country's zinc deposits are in the form of sedimentary exhalative (Sedex), Mississippi Valley Type (MVT), volocanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) and in the form of zinc oxide, mainly located in the Boliden area.
Zinkgruvan is one of the largest underground zinc mines in Sweden. Zinkgruvan is a zinc-lead-silver mine near Akersund on Sweden’s Lake Vattern, Zinkgruvan started underground mining in 1857. The Zinkgruvan deposit is located in the southern part of the Bergslagen province of south-central Sweden. The primary metal produced is zinc, with lead and silver as by-products.
Canadian zinc mine production amounted to 340,000 metric tons. Refined zinc metal production is estimated to have reached 680,000 tonnes. Zinc metal is produced at refineries in British Columbia, Manitoba and Quebec. Zinc mines are currently operating in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Québec, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut and New Brunswick. Quebec produced some 53,741 metric tons of Zinc.
The Lalor Mine is located in Manitoba, produced an estimated 73.858 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The 777 Mine produced an estimated 44.272 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Caribou Zinc-Lead-Silver Mine is located in New Brunswick, produced an estimated 27.58 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Kidd Creek Mine is located in Ontario, produced an estimated 27.359 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Langlois Mine is an underground mine located in Quebec, that produced an estimated 22.83 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
Canadian exports of zinc and zinc products in 2020 were valued at $2.0 billion. Canada exported 620,955 tonnes of unwrought zinc and other zinc metal products. Zinc products were exported primarily to the United States while minor amounts were shipped to Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and China. All primary zinc metal production in Canada is carried out by the electrolytic process, which yields a product that is more than 99% pure.
In 2020, Kazakhstan's zinc mine production amounted to 360 thousand metric tons. Zinc-bearing ore is produced at Ridder and Altay mines and Zhairem open pits. Zinc metal and Zn-Al alloy are produced in Ust-Kamenogorsk Metallurgical Complex and Ridder Metallurgical Complex. The Priorskoye Mine is located in Aktobe, produced an estimated 58.85 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
The 50 Let Oktyabrya Mine located in Aktobe, produced an estimated 38.711 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Maleevsky Mine is owned by Glencore Plc produced an estimated 54.171 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Orlovsky Mine is an underground mine located in East Kazakhstan. It produced an estimated 25.7 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Zhairemsky Mine is located in Karagandy produced an estimated 41.091 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
In 2020, Bolivia's zinc mine production amounted to 500 thousand metric tons. The San Cristobal mine in Bolivia is the country’s largest mining operation and one of the world’s biggest producers of zinc, lead, and silver. The San Cristóbal mining complex, is an open-pit silver, lead and zinc mine located near the town of San Cristóbal, PotosÃ. The mine produces approximately 1,300 metric tons of zinc-silver ore.
In 2020, Mexico's zinc mine production amounted to 680 thousand metric tons. The Penasquito Mine is located in Zacatecas, produced an estimated 172.8 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Velardena Project is underground mine produced an estimated 77.891 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Saucito Mine is located in Zacatecas, produced an estimated 42.774 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Francisco I. Madero Mine produced an estimated 41.964 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Tizapa Mine is an underground mine located in Mexico, that produced an estimated 37.49 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
Zinc mining in the United States produced 730,000 tonnes of zinc. Zinc was mined in six States at 15 mines operated by five companies. Most US zinc came from the Red Dog mine in Alaska. Other U.S. states with significant zinc production from mines are Idaho, Missouri, Washington, and Tennessee. The industry employed about 2,500 in mining and milling, and 250 in smelting. The US consumed 950,000 tons of zinc.
Hecla Mining's Greens Creek mine produced 56,805 tonnes of zinc. The Sweetwater Mine is an underground mine that produced an estimated 112 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Middle Tennessee Mines is produced an estimated 38.637 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Red Dog Mine produced an estimated 490.7 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The East Tennessee Mines is located in Tennessee, produced an estimated 59.007 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Greens Creek Mine is located in Alaska, produced an estimated 51.541 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
Australia's zinc mine production amounted to 1 million metric tons in 2020. Australia today has more than 20% of the world's known zinc-lead resources. Australia ranks third behind China and Canada in world mine production and second to Canada in exports of zinc. Australia exports zinc as refined metal to India, the USA, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom.
The Mount Isa Zinc Mine, The Dugald River Project and Century Tailings Mine are located in Queensland and produced an estimated 354.2, 158.354 and 116.948 Thousand tonnes of zinc respectively. McArthur River Mine produced an estimated 279.3 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Golden Grove Mine is located in Western Australia and produced an estimated 192.729 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
The volume of zinc production in India amounted to approximately 1.3 million metric tons. India exported zinc and its products worth over 600 million U.S. dollars. India consumed over 650 thousand metric tons of zinc slabs and primary zinc. The Rampura Agucha Mine is an underground mine located in Rajasthan that produced an estimated 369.403 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
The Kayad Mine is located in Rajasthan and produced an estimated 70.256 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Sindesar Khurd Mine is an underground mine that produced an estimated 112.943 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Rajpura Dariba Mine is an underground mine located in Rajasthan, that produced an estimated 39.691 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Zawar Mine is an underground mine located in Rajasthan. The mine produced an estimated 69.48 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
Peru's zinc mine production amounted to 1.4 million metric tons in 2020. The Antamina Mine is a surface mine located in Ancash, produced an estimated 262.11 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Cerro Lindo Mine is an underground mine that produced an estimated 109.074 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
The Raura Mine is a surface and underground mine located in Huanuco. The mine produced an estimated 56.45 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Colquijirca Mine is a surface mine located in Pasco. It produced an estimated 54.9 Thousand tonnes of zinc in 2020. The San Cristobal Mine is located in Lima, produced an estimated 64.771 Thousand tonnes of zinc. Exports of zinc were valued at about $2 billion.
China is the largest producer of the base metal zinc in the world. China's mine production of zinc amounted to an estimated 5.1 million metric tons in 2020. Domestic mine production accounted for 68% of China’s total zinc concentrate supply in 2020, with many. China produced over 40% of the total world production of zinc. The Fankou Mine is an underground mine located in Guangdong, that produced an estimated 181.977 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
Wulagen Lead and Zinc Mine are located in Xinjiang Uyghur, produced an estimated 97.945 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Inner Mongolia Sanguikou Zinc and Lead Mine are located in Inner Mongolia, produced an estimated 74.717 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Xitieshan Lead and Zinc Mine, owned by Western Mining Group, is a surface mine located in Qinghai, produced an estimated 55.946 Thousand tonnes of zinc. Yinshan Mine is a surface mine located in Jiangxi. It produced an estimated 35.944 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
Zinkgruvan is one of the largest underground zinc mines in Sweden. Zinkgruvan is a zinc-lead-silver mine near Akersund on Sweden’s Lake Vattern, Zinkgruvan started underground mining in 1857. The Zinkgruvan deposit is located in the southern part of the Bergslagen province of south-central Sweden. The primary metal produced is zinc, with lead and silver as by-products.
9. Canada :-
Canadian zinc mine production amounted to 340,000 metric tons. Refined zinc metal production is estimated to have reached 680,000 tonnes. Zinc metal is produced at refineries in British Columbia, Manitoba and Quebec. Zinc mines are currently operating in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Québec, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut and New Brunswick. Quebec produced some 53,741 metric tons of Zinc.
The Lalor Mine is located in Manitoba, produced an estimated 73.858 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The 777 Mine produced an estimated 44.272 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Caribou Zinc-Lead-Silver Mine is located in New Brunswick, produced an estimated 27.58 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Kidd Creek Mine is located in Ontario, produced an estimated 27.359 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Langlois Mine is an underground mine located in Quebec, that produced an estimated 22.83 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
Canadian exports of zinc and zinc products in 2020 were valued at $2.0 billion. Canada exported 620,955 tonnes of unwrought zinc and other zinc metal products. Zinc products were exported primarily to the United States while minor amounts were shipped to Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and China. All primary zinc metal production in Canada is carried out by the electrolytic process, which yields a product that is more than 99% pure.
8. Kazakhstan :-
In 2020, Kazakhstan's zinc mine production amounted to 360 thousand metric tons. Zinc-bearing ore is produced at Ridder and Altay mines and Zhairem open pits. Zinc metal and Zn-Al alloy are produced in Ust-Kamenogorsk Metallurgical Complex and Ridder Metallurgical Complex. The Priorskoye Mine is located in Aktobe, produced an estimated 58.85 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
The 50 Let Oktyabrya Mine located in Aktobe, produced an estimated 38.711 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Maleevsky Mine is owned by Glencore Plc produced an estimated 54.171 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Orlovsky Mine is an underground mine located in East Kazakhstan. It produced an estimated 25.7 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Zhairemsky Mine is located in Karagandy produced an estimated 41.091 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
7. Bolivia :-
In 2020, Bolivia's zinc mine production amounted to 500 thousand metric tons. The San Cristobal mine in Bolivia is the country’s largest mining operation and one of the world’s biggest producers of zinc, lead, and silver. The San Cristóbal mining complex, is an open-pit silver, lead and zinc mine located near the town of San Cristóbal, PotosÃ. The mine produces approximately 1,300 metric tons of zinc-silver ore.
6. Mexico :-
In 2020, Mexico's zinc mine production amounted to 680 thousand metric tons. The Penasquito Mine is located in Zacatecas, produced an estimated 172.8 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Velardena Project is underground mine produced an estimated 77.891 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Saucito Mine is located in Zacatecas, produced an estimated 42.774 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Francisco I. Madero Mine produced an estimated 41.964 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Tizapa Mine is an underground mine located in Mexico, that produced an estimated 37.49 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
5. United States of America :-
Zinc mining in the United States produced 730,000 tonnes of zinc. Zinc was mined in six States at 15 mines operated by five companies. Most US zinc came from the Red Dog mine in Alaska. Other U.S. states with significant zinc production from mines are Idaho, Missouri, Washington, and Tennessee. The industry employed about 2,500 in mining and milling, and 250 in smelting. The US consumed 950,000 tons of zinc.
Hecla Mining's Greens Creek mine produced 56,805 tonnes of zinc. The Sweetwater Mine is an underground mine that produced an estimated 112 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Middle Tennessee Mines is produced an estimated 38.637 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Red Dog Mine produced an estimated 490.7 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The East Tennessee Mines is located in Tennessee, produced an estimated 59.007 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Greens Creek Mine is located in Alaska, produced an estimated 51.541 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
4. Australia :-
Australia's zinc mine production amounted to 1 million metric tons in 2020. Australia today has more than 20% of the world's known zinc-lead resources. Australia ranks third behind China and Canada in world mine production and second to Canada in exports of zinc. Australia exports zinc as refined metal to India, the USA, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom.
The Mount Isa Zinc Mine, The Dugald River Project and Century Tailings Mine are located in Queensland and produced an estimated 354.2, 158.354 and 116.948 Thousand tonnes of zinc respectively. McArthur River Mine produced an estimated 279.3 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Golden Grove Mine is located in Western Australia and produced an estimated 192.729 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
3. India :-
The volume of zinc production in India amounted to approximately 1.3 million metric tons. India exported zinc and its products worth over 600 million U.S. dollars. India consumed over 650 thousand metric tons of zinc slabs and primary zinc. The Rampura Agucha Mine is an underground mine located in Rajasthan that produced an estimated 369.403 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
The Kayad Mine is located in Rajasthan and produced an estimated 70.256 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Sindesar Khurd Mine is an underground mine that produced an estimated 112.943 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Rajpura Dariba Mine is an underground mine located in Rajasthan, that produced an estimated 39.691 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Zawar Mine is an underground mine located in Rajasthan. The mine produced an estimated 69.48 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
2. Peru :-
Peru's zinc mine production amounted to 1.4 million metric tons in 2020. The Antamina Mine is a surface mine located in Ancash, produced an estimated 262.11 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Cerro Lindo Mine is an underground mine that produced an estimated 109.074 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
The Raura Mine is a surface and underground mine located in Huanuco. The mine produced an estimated 56.45 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Colquijirca Mine is a surface mine located in Pasco. It produced an estimated 54.9 Thousand tonnes of zinc in 2020. The San Cristobal Mine is located in Lima, produced an estimated 64.771 Thousand tonnes of zinc. Exports of zinc were valued at about $2 billion.
1. China :-
China is the largest producer of the base metal zinc in the world. China's mine production of zinc amounted to an estimated 5.1 million metric tons in 2020. Domestic mine production accounted for 68% of China’s total zinc concentrate supply in 2020, with many. China produced over 40% of the total world production of zinc. The Fankou Mine is an underground mine located in Guangdong, that produced an estimated 181.977 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
Wulagen Lead and Zinc Mine are located in Xinjiang Uyghur, produced an estimated 97.945 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Inner Mongolia Sanguikou Zinc and Lead Mine are located in Inner Mongolia, produced an estimated 74.717 Thousand tonnes of zinc. The Xitieshan Lead and Zinc Mine, owned by Western Mining Group, is a surface mine located in Qinghai, produced an estimated 55.946 Thousand tonnes of zinc. Yinshan Mine is a surface mine located in Jiangxi. It produced an estimated 35.944 Thousand tonnes of zinc.
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