US zinc scrap prices increased for most grades on Thursday in a buoyant market.
The three-month official LME zinc contract corrected slightly today, closing at $2,918.50/mt down by $26.50/mt from May 6.
Prices for both zinc galvanizer grades increased this week amid strong demand from the steel and construction industries and tight supply of material. The weekly Davis Index for zinc galvanizers bottom dross rose by 3.3¢/lb to 87.3¢/lb delivered US consumer while zinc galvanizers top dross increased by 7.2¢/lb to 87.7¢/lb delivered.
New zinc diecast fell by 3¢/lb to 85.5¢/lb delivered US consumer as softening demand from the automotive sector caught up for this grade, while the Davis Index special high-grade zinc premium remained unchanged at 8.1¢/lb delivered on balanced supply and demand.
Offers for the zinc dross grades are being heard at as much as 90-92¢/lb as orders from the steel industry strengthen for these galvanizing grades. A construction boom across the US is also driving zinc scrap prices with participants expecting scrap flows to improve and sellers trying to offload more material to benefit from the high price levels.