# Zinc: Relationships Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/zinc/links/ Every element and industry that Zinc is linked to, and how. Each pair has its own card explaining the relationships between the two. - [Cadmium](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/cadmium-and-zinc/): 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](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/indium-and-zinc/): 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](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/steel-and-zinc/): 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](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/sulphuric-acid-and-zinc/): 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](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/copper-and-zinc/): 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](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/germanium-and-zinc/): 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](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/lead-and-zinc/): 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](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/flow-batteries-and-zinc/): Flow batteries needs zinc; their prices have moved together. - [Fungicides](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/fungicides-and-zinc/): Zinc is a raw material for fungicides; their prices have moved together. - [Metal-air batteries](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/metal-air-batteries-and-zinc/): Metal-air batteries needs zinc; their prices have moved together. - [Other and primary batteries](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/other-and-primary-batteries-and-zinc/): Other and primary batteries needs zinc; their prices have moved together. - [Aerospace and defence](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/aerospace-and-defence-and-zinc/): Aerospace and defence depends on zinc. - [Apparel and footwear](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/apparel-and-footwear-and-zinc/): Apparel and footwear depends on zinc. - [Electrical equipment](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electrical-equipment-and-zinc/): Electrical equipment depends on zinc. - [Energy-intensive industry](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/energy-intensive-industry-and-zinc/): Their prices have moved together. - [Furniture](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/furniture-and-zinc/): Furniture depends on zinc. - [Lubricant additives](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/lubricant-additives-and-zinc/): Zinc is a raw material for lubricant additives. - [Metal products](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/metal-products-and-zinc/): Metal products depends on zinc. - [Plastic and rubber products](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/plastic-and-rubber-products-and-zinc/): Plastic and rubber products depends on zinc. - [Rubber chemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/rubber-chemicals-and-zinc/): Their prices have moved together. - [Telecommunications](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/telecommunications-and-zinc/): Telecommunications depends on zinc. - [Vehicles, ships, rail, aircraft](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/vehicles-ships-rail-aircraft-and-zinc/): Vehicles, ships, rail, aircraft depends on zinc. - [Water and sanitation](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/water-and-sanitation-and-zinc/): Water and sanitation depends on zinc. ## Other sections - [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/zinc/index.md) - [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/zinc/overview/index.md) - [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/zinc/correlation/index.md) - [Extraction](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/zinc/extraction/index.md) - [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/zinc/production/index.md) - [Stocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/zinc/stocks/index.md) - [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/zinc/cycles/index.md) - [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/zinc/trading/index.md) - [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/zinc/movement/index.md) - [Criticality](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/zinc/criticality/index.md) - [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/zinc/characteristics/index.md) - [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/zinc/emissions/index.md)