(MB) Zinc premiums have remained steady in Europe this week with more participants returning to the spot market following a loosening of LME spreads, while there was downward pressures in Asian zinc premiums on slow regional demand ahead of Lunar New Year and a closed arbitrage window.Over 22,175 tonnes of zinc stock has been canceled in European LME sheds after the backwardation in the cash/three-month spread largely came off Vibrancy has returned to the European spot zinc market With the zinc arbitrage window having closed, premiums in Southeast Asia and India dropped Hindustan Zinc’s refined lead output rose by 18% while zinc output shrank by 6% in October-December 2018 Spot lead premiums are flat across the globe, except in the Taiwanese market European zinc spot market activity picks up; big tonnages marked for delivery The zinc spot market was more active in the European market in the week to Tuesday January 22 after the chronic tightness in the LME’s three-month spreads eased. The Rotterdam zinc premium, duty-paid fca, and Antwerp zinc premium, also duty-paid fca, were flat at $115-125 per tonne on Tuesday with multiple smaller parcels reported being sold at low to mid $120s
