Global Lead and Zinc Market Size By Type (Lead, Zinc), By Source (Primary Lead (From Mining), Secondary Lead (From Recycling)), By Zinc End Use (Galvanizing, Zinc Alloying), By Lead End Use (Batteries, Cable Sheathing), By Geographic Scope And Forecast

Lead and Zinc Market Size And Forecast

Lead and Zinc Market size was valued at USD 27.35 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 39.53 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.20% from 2024 to 2031.

One of the major elements influencing the demand for zinc and lead is the growing usage of lead-acid batteries, which are found in computers, forklift trucks, emergency systems, and other equipment. Another important factor is the growing use of zinc as a galvanizing agent. Due to increased demand from both existing and emerging industries, such as galvanizing, construction, the automotive industry, renewable energy, and batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles, the global zinc industry also saw exponential expansion. Other factors driving the industry forward include the incorporation of contemporary technologies and the usage of cutting-edge mining methods.

Global Lead and Zinc Market Definition

Zinc? That's element number 30 on the periodic table. Now, lead, that's a whole different story. Think of it as a heavy metal – literally! It's this thick, bendy, and super soft bluish-white metal that's got a cool, shiny luster. But, don't expect it to win any awards for electrical conductivity. It's actually used to hold nasty, corrosive liquids because it's so good at resisting corrosion. You usually find lead hanging out with zinc, silver, and copper in ore. The main lead mineral is called Galena (PbS), but you'll also see Angelsite (PbSO4) and cerussite (PbCO3) around. As I mentioned before, it's a shiny, bluish-white metal, really soft and you can mold it pretty easily. It's a terrible conductor of electricity, and even though it's corrosion-resistant, it'll tarnish if you leave it out in the air. And get this, lead is actually produced by all three series of naturally occurring radioactive elements!

Think of zinc as a metal that's not super eager to react, but it will react with dilute acids, creating hydrogen gas. It also plays nice with oxygen and other non-metals. Good news is, zinc is pretty common! They reckon there are about 224,000,000 million tonnes of it in the top mile of the earth's crust. But, that's just an estimate, and doesn't mean we can get to it easily, or without messing things up, you know, economically or environmentally. Sphalerite, also called zinc blende, is the most common zinc mineral. It's found in nearly all zinc mines, crystallizing as pure zinc sulfide from hot water solutions. Often, you'll find zinc hanging out with friends like lead, copper, and silver in these mines.

Global Lead and Zinc Market Overview

The primary factor driving zinc demand is the production of galvanized steel, which is extensively used in a range of industries including construction, infrastructure, and automobiles as well as home appliances, machinery, and shipbuilding. The primary drivers of this market are the expansion of the infrastructure in developing countries like India, Brazil, and Indonesia as well as the rising demand for galvanized steel. Also, The market is expanding most significantly in the industries where the use of steel alloys is rising. Zinc metal makes up the majority of these alloys.

Industry's been gobbling up steel and zinc lately! This surge is a major factor in the Lead and Zinc Market's growth. All those new buildings and infrastructure projects? They're fueling the market's expansion. We're also keeping a close eye on how the big zinc mines and mining companies are doing worldwide. Plus, manufacturers from all over are investing, leading to more and more production plants popping up. And guess what? All that new machinery and equipment being built means we'll need even more lead. Oh, and the growing aerospace industry in Japan? That's going to help the market take off too!

As metal alloy production ramps up, so does the demand for lead and zinc. Sure, the US-China trade war and shrinking inventory are throwing a little shade on the market, but these are minor bumps. What could really slow things down? Well, the fact that there are substitutes out there and all those pesky environmental rules countries are slapping on lead use. Plus, let's not forget that making zinc isn't exactly a walk in the park; you end up with stuff like sodium oxide (nasty stuff that explodes in water), carbon monoxide (not good for anyone), and ozone-forming & carbon dioxide (hello, environment!). On the bright side, the industry's getting a boost from all the cool tech advancements happening. So, yeah, it's a mixed bag.

Market Attractiveness

The image of market attractiveness provided would further help to get information about the region that is majorly leading in the Global Lead and Zinc Market. We cover the major impacting factors that are responsible for driving the industry growth in the given region.

Porter’s Five Forces

The image provided would further help to get information about Porter’s five forces framework providing a blueprint for understanding the behavior of competitors and a player’s strategic positioning in the respective industry. The porter’s five forces model can be used to assess the competitive landscape in the global Lead and Zinc Market, gauge the attractiveness of a certain sector, and assess investment possibilities.

Global Lead and Zinc Market Segmentation Analysis

The Global Lead and Zinc Market is segmented on the basis of Type, Source, Zinc End Use, Lead End Use, and Geography.

Lead and Zinc Market, By Type

• Lead
• Zinc

Think of metals and you probably think of lead and zinc! Based on Type, the market's essentially split into these two. Zinc's a big deal, actually the fourth most used metal globally! You see it everywhere, from the buildings we use to get around (transportation!), and even in cool, new stuff like clean energy. Our Analyst notes that since 2020, zinc mine production has jumped by 544 Thousand tonnes, while lead's climbed by 89 Thousand tonnes. What's really neat is how crucial zinc is for a low-carbon future. Take zinc-ion batteries, for example – some folks think they're safer and cheaper because they use water-based chemistry. That makes them way less likely to catch fire than those lithium-ion batteries in your electric car. And get thismost of the zinc out there is used to coat other metals, like steel and iron, giving them a corrosion-resistant shield. Plus, because zinc coatings protect solar panels and wind turbines from rust, it's a key player in green tech too!

Lead and Zinc Market, By Source 

• Primary Lead (From Mining)
• Secondary Lead (From Recycling)
• Primary Zinc (From Mining)
• Secondary Zinc (From Recycling)

Okay, so when we look at the market, it really breaks down into a few key areaswe've got primary lead that comes straight from mining, and then secondary lead, which is from recycling. Same goes for zincthere's primary zinc (from mining) and secondary zinc (from recycling). For zinc, mining is the big player, taking up the biggest chunk of the market - we're talking over 80%! Most of that zinc is pulled from below ground, though about 8% comes from open pits, and the remaining 12% uses a mix of both. Did you know the Red Dog Mine in Alaska is the biggest zinc mine around? But zinc's mined in over 50 countries! The top dogs? That'd be Canada, Australia, China, Peru, and the United States. Now, heads upwe're expecting some zinc mines in places like Canada, Australia, Ireland, and Namibia to close down soon because they're running out of ore. And when it comes to finding zinc ore, you're usually looking at sediment-hosted, volcanic-hosted, intrusion-related, Broken Ore type, or Mississippi Valley-type deposits.

Typically, lead can be found in ore along with other metals like zinc, silver, and frequently copper. Lead is typically found in the ore that also contains zinc, silver, and frequently copper and is extracted as a co-product of these metals. lead is typically found in the ore that also contains zinc, silver, and frequently copper. But more than half of the lead we consume is recycled, primarily from defunct automobile batteries.

Lead and Zinc Market, By Zinc End Use

• Galvanizing
• Zinc Alloying
• Brass and Bronze
• Zin-Semi Manufactures
• Chemicals
• Others

Think about how zinc is used! We can break it down by end usethings like galvanizing, zinc alloying, making brass and bronze, Zin-Semi manufacturing, chemicals, and, well, others. Galvanizing takes the cake right now, holding the biggest chunk of the global market. Why? Because zinc is everywhere! It's super effective at protecting steel from rust (galvanizing, remember?), and it's great for making intricate die-cast parts. Plus, it's important for our health and plays a big role in metals, chemicals, and even construction. Zinc alloying is also a big player, right behind galvanizing. The cool thing about using zinc in alloys is that it naturally fights corrosion. Most metals, except aluminum, can corrode, but zinc can turn them into corrosion-resistant superstars.

Lead and Zinc Market, By Lead End Use

• Batteries
• Cable Sheathing
• Rolled and Extruded Products
• Shot Ammunition
• Alloys
• Pigments and Other Compounds
• Others

Based on Lead End Use, The market is bifurcated into Batteries, Cable Sheathing, Rolled and Extruded Products, Shot Ammunition, Alloys, Pigments and Other Compounds, and Other. The main consumers of lead are batteries, rolled and extruded goods, and pigments. In actuality, 80% of all applications for lead are in lead-acid batteries. Vehicles, emergency systems, and industrial batteries found in computers and forklift trucks all employ lead-acid batteries. Despite the increased attention being paid to lithium-ion batteries, lead-acid batteries are anticipated to remain in high demand.

Lead and Zinc Market, By Geography

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa

So, when we look at the Global Lead and Zinc Market, we break it down by regionNorth America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa. What's really driving growth in the Asia Pacific region? It's the low cost and ready availability of those chemical fertilizers. Because countries in Asia-Pacific are using zinc sulfate as an additive in those fertilizers, the demand for zinc has really taken off. And let's not forget that China and India are huge players in this part of the world, fueling a lot of that growth. Plus, with everyone wanting more renewable energy, the market for zinc is getting a real boost!

In addition, the growing acceptance of electric vehicles is anticipated to fuel demand for zinc alloys, and expansion in the construction sector is anticipated to support market expansion. Increasing demand from end users including the automotive sector and electronics manufacturers, rising consumer knowledge of zinc’s advantages, and rising R&D expenditures for fresh uses of mining methods for zinc minerals round out the main reasons propelling the expansion of the Lead and Zinc Market. However, the market’s expansion is being constrained by elements including rising production costs and environmental concerns.

Due to the region’s rapidly rising demand for electric vehicles, China and India are anticipated to have one of the fastest expanding markets. Due to the widespread and extensive use of chemical derivatives of zinc, this region is considered to be the leading region. As a result, the demand for zinc chemicals in this area will increase. The market is further divided into Galvanizing, Die Casting, Brass and Bronze, and Other Applications. Over the forecast period, growth will be driven by the government initiative to encourage the use of electric vehicles in order to significantly reduce pollution. The primary driver of zinc in this region is anticipated to be rapid development in developing nations.

Key Players

The “Global Lead and Zinc Market” study report will provide valuable insight with an emphasis on the global market including some of the major players such as Hudbay Minerals Inc., Pan American Silver Corp., Glencore PLC, Hindustan Zinc Ltd, Teck Resourcrd Ltd, Zijin Mining Group, Nexa Resources SA, BHP, XSTRATA, Exon Mobile Corporation, and Southern Copper Corporation are the key market participants.

Our market analysis also entails a section solely dedicated to such major players wherein our analysts provide an insight into the financial statements of all the major players, along with its product benchmarking and SWOT analysis. The competitive landscape section also includes key development strategies, market share, and market ranking analysis of the above-mentioned players globally.

Key Developments

• In January 2023, The board has approved the sale of the assets of Zinc International to Hindustan Zinc for a cash payment of USD 2,981 million, according to Vedanta company. After Hindustan Zinc announced that it will purchase the assets of Zinc International from parent firm Vedanta, its shares fell by 9% in trading. The news tainted the Anil Agarwal firm’s otherwise consistent performance for the December 2022 quarter.
• In January 2023, Excellon Resources revealed that it has signed a legally binding deal to buy the licensed, formerly productive La Negra Ag-Zn-Cu-Pb mine in Mexico from an investment fund run by Orion Resource Partners for a total of $50 million.The total consideration, according to the company, consists of upfront payments totaling $20 million, payable in common shares of the company, and an additional $30 million in contingent, deferred consideration, payable in common shares of the company or in cash at the company’s discretion, following the restart of commercial production.
• In December 2022, Orion Minerals, an Australian copper mining firm, signed agreements with a few Triple Flag Precious Metals companies for a financial package totaling $87 million to advance the development of its Prieska copper-zinc project in South Africa.This bundle includes a $80 million stream of precious metals. During the copper-zinc mine’s construction, it may be withdrawn in installments together with other bank or outside finance.
• In February 2022, The Pine Point Project, one of the most interesting zinc development assets in the world with fast access to supported infrastructure and one of the cleanest concentrates, is being advanced quickly by Osisko Metals.One of Canada’s main producers of zinc and lead, the Pine Point Project, is about to resume production thanks to Osisko Metals.Both the zinc and the lead concentrates Pine Point would generate are distinguished by their very high purity and grade. Due to the extremely minimal amount of harmful elements included in these high-quality concentrates, Osisko Metals does not expect to face any smelter or refinery penalties.

Ace Matrix Analysis

The Ace Matrix provided in the report would help to understand how the major key players involved in this industry are performing as we provide a ranking for these companies based on various factors such as service features & innovations, scalability, innovation of services, industry coverage, industry reach, and growth roadmap. Based on these factors, we rank the companies into four categories as Active, Cutting Edge, Emerging, and Innovators.