US zinc scrap prices increased for a second successive week in tandem with rising LME zinc prices.
The LME zinc market continued to rise from the highs it reached last week with three-month official LME zinc closing Thursday at $2,859.50/mt; up by $113/mt from Feb 11. Exchange prices have been fueled by falling warehouse stocks.
In the US scrap markets, the weekly Davis Index for zinc galvanizers bottom dross rose by 5¢/lb to 78.5¢/lb delivered US consumer on Thursday. Zinc galvanizers top dross climbed by the same amount to 75.5¢/lb delivered. Soaring LME prices have sent galvanizer scrap grades up by around 10¢/lb over the past two weeks.
Demand in the Midwest remains steady while inclement weather conditions have impacted flows in the South and parts of the East Coast where scrap yards have been forced to shut down because of power outages and winter storms.
The weekly Davis Index for new zinc diecast increased by 2.6¢/lb to 81.3¢/lb delivered US consumer. In primary markets, the Davis Index special high-grade zinc premium held unchanged at 8.1¢/lb delivered.