China's Zhongjin Lingnan resumes zinc mine

: Metals
26/09/17

Major Chinese zinc and lead producer Shenzhen Zhongjin Lingnan has resumed operations at its Fankou zinc-lead mine, the company announced today.

The company announced on 5 August that the operations at its Fankou zinc-lead mine had been suspended following a roof-collapse accident that resulted in one fatality.

The company has not disclosed the total production loss resulting from the suspension. Zhongjin Lingnan produced 253,805t of contained zinc and lead in concentrate in 2025. The Fankou mine accounts for around half of the company's concentrate output, producing about 120,000-130,000 t/yr of contained zinc and lead, according to the company.

China's zinc concentrate market has been extremely tight this year, because of global mines disruptions and higher domestic refined zinc production supported by high sulphuric acid by-product prices. Argus assessed imported zinc concentrate TCs at -$130/dry metric tonne (dmt) to -$105/dmt on 16 September, down significantly from -$20/dmt to $10/dmt on 8 April.

The resumption of the Fankou mine is unlikely to reverse the deeply negative TC environment, market participants said.

Smelters typically begin replenishing concentrate inventories in late September or early October ahead of winter operations, which is likely to exert further downward pressure on concentrate TCs in the coming months.

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