The Davis Index for US zinc alloys decreased slightly on Tuesday amid weak demand and constricted supply.
The weekly Davis Index for Zamak #2 decreased to $1.085/lb delivered US consumer from $1.096/lb delivered on April 7 and fell for Zamak #3 to $1.055/lb delivered from $1.066/lb delivered.
The index for Zamak #5 also fell to $1.070/lb delivered US consumer from $1.081/lb delivered, as did Zamak #7, which declined to $1.055/lb delivered on Tuesday from $1.066/lb delivered.
The index for zinc alloys ZA 8, ZA 12, and ZA 27 also fell by slightly more than a penny to $.1.105/lb, $1.125/lb and $1.135/lb, respectively.
A shorter business week due to Easter weekend kept zinc alloy prices moving within a narrow range, although market participants anticipate an upward swing after automotive plants reopen from COVID-19 related production moratoriums, and demand increases. However, that could take some time considering countries around the world are extending their lockdown periods, as are steelmakers.
The official cash offers on LME zinc closed on Tuesday at $0.8645/lb, down from $0.8763/lb on April 7. The official three-month LME zinc contracts also decreased by $19.5/mt to close Tuesday at $1,920.5/mt from with $1,940/mt on April 7.