World Lead Short Supply and Zinc Surplus in Jan-Feb

International Lead & Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) announced in the latest monthly report that world total lead metal supply was short by 52,000 tonnes against the world total consumption in January-February 2007 while zinc metal supply was surplus by 44,000 tonnes against the total consumption. In January-February, both of world lead metal production and consumption increased from a year earlier, while the consumption growth was larger than the production. As to zinc metal, the world total production increased in January-February from a year earlier but the consumption kept flat.World total lead metal production increased by 5% to 1.392 million tonnes in January-February from a year earlier and the total consumption increased by 12.5% to 1.444 million tonnes. The production increased in all areas other than Oceania, up by 9% to 681,000 tonnes in Asia and up by 4.1% to 356,000 tonnes in America. The consumption increased by 27.8% to 741,000 tonnes in Asia and by 3.2% to 323,000 tonnes in Europe, while it decreased by 3% to 355,000 tonnes in America.World total zinc metal production increased by 7.3% to 1.857 million tonnes in January-February from a year earlier while the total consumption kept flat at 1.813 million tonnes. The production increased in all areas other than Africa, up by 8.2% to 975,000 tonnes in Asia, up by 6.6% to 439,000 tonnes in Europe and up by 5.7% to 317,000 tonnes in America. The consumption decreased by 32,000 tonnes or 3.4% to 916,000 tonnes in Asia, which canceled the increase in the other areas.In 2007 world total lead metal production is estimated to become 8.27 million tonnes and the consumption 8.21 million tonnes, while world total zinc metal production 11.166 million tonnes and the consumption 11.35 million tonnes, according to ILZSG’s forecast announced in October 2006.