Zinc - Production, Reserves & Supply Concentration
A metal widely used to galvanise steel and in alloys and chemical products.Production and reserves are measured by zinc content. Mine output supplies the smelting and refining stages of zinc production.
Zinc Global Production & Country Share
Measure: Mine production (thousand metric tons)
Zinc Production by Country (2020-2025)
Mine production · Unit: thousand metric tons
| Rank | Country | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e | Share | 5Y Chg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | China | 4,060 | 4,140 | 4,040 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,100 | 31.5% | +1.0% |
| #2 | Peru | 1,330 | 1,530 | 1,370 | 1,400 | 1,270 | 1,500 | 11.5% | +12.8% |
| #3 | Australia | 1,310 | 1,320 | 1,240 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 8.5% | -16.0% |
| #4 | India | 720 | 777 | 840 | 860 | 866 | 870 | 6.7% | +20.8% |
| #5 | Mexico | 638 | 724 | 744 | 690 | 773 | 780 | 6.0% | +22.3% |
| #6 | United States | 718 | 704 | 761 | 750 | 759 | 670 | 5.2% | -6.7% |
| #7 | Bolivia | 360 | 500 | 518 | 490 | 512 | 500 | 3.8% | +38.9% |
| #8 | Russia | 280 | 280 | 300 | 310 | 310 | 430 | 3.3% | +53.6% |
| #9 | Kazakhstan | 222 | 194 | 312 | 330 | 375 | 360 | 2.8% | +62.2% |
| #10 | Sweden | 232 | 234 | 234 | 220 | 239 | 230 | 1.8% | -0.9% |
| - | World Total | 12,000 | 12,700 | 12,500 | 12,000 | 11,900 | 13,000 | 100.0% | +8.3% |
Zinc Proven Reserves by Country (2025)
Basis: Reserves · Unit: thousand metric tons · Global Implied Reserve Life: 18.5 years
| Rank | Country | Reserves (thousand metric tons) | World Share | USGS Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Australia | 64,000 | 26.7% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. - Australia, Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant or equivalent reserves were 19 million tons. |
| #2 | China | 60,000 | 25.0% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #3 | Russia | 29,000 | 12.1% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #4 | Peru | 18,000 | 7.5% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #5 | Mexico | 14,000 | 5.8% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #6 | India | 10,000 | 4.2% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #7 | United States | 9,300 | 3.9% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #8 | Kazakhstan | 7,400 | 3.1% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #9 | Sweden | 4,100 | 1.7% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| - | World Total Reserves | 240,000 | 100.0% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
U.S. Supply, Consumption & Net Import Reliance (2021-2025)
| Salient Measure | Unit | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc: Production: Mine, zinc in concentrates | thousand metric tons | 704 | 766 | 766 | 759 | 670 |
| Zinc: Production: Refined zinc, | thousand metric tons | 220 | 220 | 220 | 220 | 220 |
| Zinc: Imports for consumption: Ores and concentrates | thousand metric tons | 13 | 5 | 18 | 18 | 20 |
| Zinc: Imports for consumption: Refined zinc | thousand metric tons | 701 | 762 | 705 | 590 | 600 |
| Zinc: Exports: Ores and concentrates | thousand metric tons | 644 | 644 | 641 | 660 | 630 |
| Zinc: Exports: Refined zinc | thousand metric tons | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Zinc: Consumption, apparent, refined zinc | thousand metric tons | 908 | 974 | 921 | 808 | 820 |
| Zinc: Employment, number: Mine and mill | number | 2,480 | 2,500 | 2,630 | 2,510 | 2,600 |
| Zinc: Employment, number: Smelter, primary | number | 220 | 220 | 340 | 340 | 340 |
| Zinc: U.S. Net Import Reliance | % of consumption | Net Exporter (E) | Net Exporter (E) | Net Exporter (E) | Net Exporter (E) | Net Exporter (E) |
| Zinc: U.S. Net Import Reliance | % of consumption | 76% | 77% | 76% | 73% | 73% |
Frequently Asked Questions - Zinc
Which country leads zinc production (mine production)?
China leads the 2025 USGS country table for mine production, with 4,100 thousand metric tons (estimated) (31.5% of the reported world total). World output was 13,000 thousand metric tons in 2025.
Which country holds the largest reported zinc reserves?
Australia ranks first in the USGS reserve table, with 64,000 thousand metric tons (Reserves) (26.7% of the reported world total) against a reported world total of 240,000 thousand metric tons.
What is US net import reliance and import sourcing for zinc?
In 2025, the United States was a net exporter ('E') for net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption: ores and concentrates. Across 2021-24, leading US import sources (Ores and concentrates) were Peru (50%), Canada (19%), Türkiye (18%).
How is zinc classified on the US Critical Minerals List and what are its primary uses?
Status: Listed on 2025 US List (2022 & 2025 lists). Primary applications cited in USGS summaries include: Hot-dip galvanizing to protect iron and steel from corrosion, brass and bronze alloys, die-casting alloys, and zinc oxide chemicals. Zinc is mined primarily from sphalerite (ZnS) deposits and roasted/leached at zinc refineries. In addition to supplying refined zinc, sphalerite concentrates are the primary host source for byproduct indium, germanium, and cadmium.