PHYSICALS MONTHLY - FastMarkets lead and zinc TCs for Feb 29

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Tom Jennemanntom.jennemann@fastmarkets.comSenior North American Correspondent973-204-3383

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DESCRIPTION

CURRENT RATES

PREVIOUS RATES

NOTES

SPOT ZINC CONCENTRATE TCs

CIF China

125-135

135-150

Spot TCs down on tight supply, market players see deficit starting to appear amid rapid drawdown of stocks

Drop in TCs partly attributed to buying against new Trafigura/Nyrstar supply contract, Nyrstar planning maintenance shutdown in first half. 

Glencore might consider restarting some idled mine production once LME prices reach $2,000/t

Global mines to produce 12.588mt of concentrate in 2016, down 5.2 pct - Macquarie

Wood Mac forecasts 755kt global concentrate deficit this year

Zinc ore and concentrate imports to China at 231,248t in Dec, Jan-Dec at 3,237,265t, up 47.39% vs 2014

Chinese domestic TCs stable at 5,300-5,400 yuan ($806-821) delivered incl. VAT

ANNUAL ZINC CONCENTRATE TC

Annual benchmark

245 in 2015

223 in 2014

Teck/Glencore agreement, based on $2,000/t zinc. Highest level since 2010

Deal includes 9.5-pct escalator on a zinc price of $2,500, with 7.5-pct escalator above $2,500 and de-escalator of 3.5 pct below $2,000 

Miners and smelters unable to reach 2016 TC benchmark deal at IZA - base price and escalators are sticking points

Miners want escalators at 3-6 pct; smelters ask for 9 pct

Talk of a "free zone" base price where the TC would be flat and the escalators and de-escalators would only be applicable either side of that range.

 

SPOT LEAD CONCENTRATE TCs

CIF China

150-165 high silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

150-165 low silver

 

160-170 high silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

145-160 low silver

 

Lead TCs go down further on increased demand from South Korea and Germany for high silver lead concs

Many Chinese smelters still awaiting import licence for high-silver lead concs, but impact so far is limited

Spot RCs drops to $1.5-1.75/oz while Chinese push for $2/oz

Lead ore and concentrate imports to China at 188,876t in Nov, up 11 percent YoY; Jan-Dec at 1,899,264t, up 4.83 percent

Chinese domestic TCs unchanged at 2,600-2,800 yuan ($395-425) dlvd incl. VAT

ANNUAL LEAD CONCENTRATE TCs

Annual benchmark high silver

192.5 in 2015, silver RC at $1.50/oz

197.5 in 2014, silver RC at $1.50/oz

BHP Billiton (South32) and Korea Zinc agree deal for Cannington concentrate (Australia). Sumitomo's San Cristobal (Bolivia) follows with same numbers

Lowest benchmark since 2007

RCs stable despite low silver price

2016 negotiations only just starting, BHP said to be seeking lower TCs for Cannington. Miners seek lower silver RCs, smelters want higher silver RCs

Annual benchmark low silver

222 in 2015

212-213 in 2014

2015 deal concluded for Teck's Red Dog conc, based on $2,000/t lead, down from $2,100 base in 2014. Silver RC reportedly lower

2016 negotiations only just starting, smelters hope for rollover but small decline seen likely

These treatment charge (TC) assessments are for concentrates in line with below grades and specifications. TCs are priced in US dollars per tonne. For lead, Refining Charges (RCs) on silver are in dollars per ounce.

Zinc: 45-55 percent zinc content, low silver (0-170 grams/t), silica 3.5-4.5%, copper below 3% (high copper 4-5%), lead below 3.5% (total copper, lead, silica at max 6-7%), arsenic below 0.6%, cadmium below 0.33% and mercury below 0.06%

Lead: 55-65 percent lead content, high silver 2-4kg/low silver below 1kg, arsenic below 0.7%, mercury below 0.05%

These rates are nominal indications only, based on contributions from market sources, and should not be construed as actual bids and offers.

(Table compiled by FastMarkets’ Physical reporting team, physicals@fastmarkets.com)

 



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