Zinc: Relationships

Every element and industry that Zinc is linked to, and how. Each pair has its own card explaining the relationships between the two.

Cadmium: Cadmium is recovered mainly as a by-product of zinc refining, so its primary supply follows zinc smelter output, not cadmium demand; toxicity rules restrict many of its uses, while CdTe thin-film solar panels are a growing outlet. (researched)
Indium: Most indium is recovered from residues of zinc smelting, so its supply depends on how much zinc is smelted and where, not on indium's own price; China refined about 70% of it in 2025. (researched)
Steel: Galvanising, coating steel with zinc so the zinc corrodes first, takes about 60% of the world's zinc, so zinc demand follows output of steel that must resist corrosion, while zinc is a large share of a galvaniser's cost. (researched)
Sulphuric acid: Most zinc is made by roasting sulphide concentrate, and the sulphur dioxide given off is turned into sulphuric acid, so every zinc smelter is also an acid plant. Acid is a by-product that must be sold or disposed of whatever its price: when acid is dear it props up smelter margins, and when it is cheap it becomes a cost. (researched)
Copper: Copper and zinc are alloyed together as brass, often mined from the same polymetallic ores, and traded on the same exchanges, giving them the closest price link among copper's partners. (researched)
Germanium: Germanium is recovered from zinc refining residues and from coal ash, so outside China its supply rests on a few zinc operations such as Red Dog and Trail, while China's controls set the world price. (researched)
Lead: Lead and zinc come out of the same ores and often the same smelters, so their mine supply is linked, but their demand is not: zinc protects steel from rust while lead mostly goes into car batteries. (researched)
Flow batteries: Flow batteries needs zinc; their prices have moved together.
Fungicides: Zinc is a raw material for fungicides; their prices have moved together.
Metal-air batteries: Metal-air batteries needs zinc; their prices have moved together.
Other and primary batteries: Other and primary batteries needs zinc; their prices have moved together.
Aerospace and defence: Aerospace and defence depends on zinc.
Apparel and footwear: Apparel and footwear depends on zinc.
Electrical equipment: Electrical equipment depends on zinc.
Energy-intensive industry: Their prices have moved together.
Furniture: Furniture depends on zinc.
Lubricant additives: Zinc is a raw material for lubricant additives.
Metal products: Metal products depends on zinc.
Plastic and rubber products: Plastic and rubber products depends on zinc.
Rubber chemicals: Their prices have moved together.
Telecommunications: Telecommunications depends on zinc.
Vehicles, ships, rail, aircraft: Vehicles, ships, rail, aircraft depends on zinc.
Water and sanitation: Water and sanitation depends on zinc.