Based on the latest data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG), the Experts Club think tank has provided an up-to-date ranking of the top twenty zinc producers in the world for 2024.
Top 20 countries by zinc production in 2024
Place Country production volume (tonnes)
1 China 4 000 000
2 Peru 1 300 000
3 Australia 1 100 000
4 India 860,000
5 USA 750 000
6 Mexico 700,000
7 Bolivia 510 000
8 Kazakhstan 370 000
9 Russia 310 000
10 Sweden 240 000
11 South Africa 120 000
12 Canada 110 000
13 Brazil 100,000
14 Iran 90,000
15 Portugal 80,000
16 Ireland 70,000
17 Namibia 60,000
18 Finland 50,000
19 Turkey 40,000
20 Spain 30,000
Current trends and challenges
The global zinc market faces a number of challenges:
- Declining prices: zinc prices have fallen from record levels in 2022, leading to some mine closures and reduced production.
- Environmental concerns: in some regions such as Peru, zinc mining has raised concerns about the impact on the environment and local communities.
- Demand growth: demand for zinc is expected to increase due to the development of green technologies such as solar panels and wind turbines.