[Ferro-Alloys.com]The International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) released its preliminary data for world lead and zinc supply and demand for the first ten months of 2013. The group reported that the world had a supply deficit of 54,000 mt, while stock levels decreased by 34,000 mt. During the first ten months of the year, metal production was 8,885,000 mt, while usage was 8,939,000 mt. Mine output increased by 3.7% when compared to the same ten-month period in 2012. Higher output was registered in Australia, China, India, and Turkey, which offset a decrease in Canadian production. Globally, refined lead output rose by 3.8%. The rise was attributed to China, Italy, Peru, and the US. Demand for refined lead was up 5.4% in the first ten months of 2013. The growth was largely driven by demand in Europe, at 4.2%; the US, at 18.5%; China, at 5.1%; and South Korea, at 12.2%. In the month of October, metal usage was 932,100 mt, while production was 935,900 mt.

 

Over the same ten-month period in 2013, the ILZSG estimated that there was a 2,000 mt surplus. Inventories, however, decreased by 208,000 mt. Year-on-year, mine output increased by 1.6%. The rise was largely influenced by output in China, India, Peru, and the US. Meanwhile, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and Mexico each saw a drop in mine production.

 

Global zinc usage rose by 7% in the first ten months of 2013. The growth was largely attributable to China, which posted a gain of 12.9%, as well as increases in India, Thailand, Turkey, and the US. Demand for zinc was flat year-on-year in Europe, the ILZSG reported. Moreover, Chinese net imports of zinc metal were up 20.3% when compared to the same 2012 period.