The coronavirus outbreak has impelled Henan Yuguang Gold and Lead to halve its zinc output, according to multiple media reports.
On Wednesday, the company shut half of its 300,000mt zinc smelting capacity because its byproduct sulphuric acid inventories are too high and there’s no foreseeable way to move them.
Dwindling zinc demand also contributed to the Henan Yuguang halting 150,000mt of zinc smelting capacity.
The company is based in China’s Henan province, which borders Hubei, the epicentre of the virus. The company has annual lead and copper smelting capacities of 400,000mt and 150,000mt, respectively.