Zinc scrap refers to all those metal wastes that contain a significant amount of zinc, such as old galvanised steel, zinc sheets, or die-cast metal products. Zinc scrap is ecologically safer, as it is considered an alternative to virgin zinc metal (which emits a lot of greenhouse gases). It falls under the category of non-ferrous metals. It can be obtained from old roofing sheets, batteries, and appliances (post-consumer sources) as well as from industrial byproducts and foundry byproducts (pre-consumer sources). Zinc is the 27th most common element found on Earth's crust; it is used to protect steel or iron from corrosion because of the presence of a protective layer on zinc after coming in contact with oxygen. The high-dip galvanizing technique is used to prevent corrosion. The coating of zinc does not prevent steel from being recycled. The production of zinc-coated steel scrap is expected to double in the upcoming years. It is because of this that the scrap value of zinc has increased in recent years.
In present times, more than 80% of zinc is available from recycled sources. 30% of the zinc producing sector is dependent upon recycled or secondary zinc. Scrap collected from zinc is not just recycled by the primary zinc producing industry, but also by the secondary zinc industry. They process metal scrap for recovering zinc in the forms of zinc slabs, zinc oxide, and zinc dust by carrying out the processes of pretreatment, melting, and refining.
Did you know that the first documented production of zinc and its scrap was found in India's Zawar region of Rajasthan state? This happened around the 12th to 16th century. Before that, it was used by the Romans and Chinese, but it was not as widely used as it was in India. Back then, Romans used only a few of the zinc ores, like calamine, to produce containers, armor, coins, and even for medicinal purposes.
The strong demand from the sectors of construction, electronics, and automotive is driving the growth of zinc scrap in the global trade industry. The reason for this growing demand is that recycling zinc scrap helps in minimizing the environmental degradation caused by zinc mining and extraction. It also preserves the natural habitat by reducing soil contamination and reducing the use of water. Among the various types of zinc scrap, the solid zinc scrap type (from the scrap form category) and high-grade zinc scrap (from the scrap quality category) are expected to dominate the trade market. The further boost to this growing market is encouraged by the governmental schemes, which are now implementing stricter rules in most countries to depend on zinc scrap recycling. The driving force behind this steady growth is countries like China, South Korea, and India - the top three importers of zinc scrap.
Other than all these factors, the recycling methods have also now become more advanced with a focused approach on the betterment of the scrap collection system. These advancements have made the process of refining and extracting zinc a lot easier. This also makes sure that the best quality of zinc is being produced and brought into the market for export. With the advancement of these methods, the production of electric vehicles is also growing. Alongside this is the sector of renewable energy, which has a steady demand for zinc to use in batteries. Some of the underhyped markets filled with export opportunities for zinc scrap are Asian countries and Latin America.
When you’re exporting a product which has already come towards the end of its life, you need to follow some protocols. This is in the light of what zinc scrap buyers expect from the supplier in terms of its quality. The more your product aligns with the market’s trade, the quicker you will close a deal with the importers. Here are those requirements:
Zinc Scrap Types & Other Related Categories in the Global Market
The global trade market of zinc scrap is continuously expanding, so should you, as an exporter. This means expanding your product range by including other related products. Here are the products which you can add to your zinc scrap exporting business:
Understanding the real value of the global zinc scrap market lets you target the exact regions which have the most growth opportunities. This is why knowing about the current market size is important for the global trade industry. Here is a brief overview of the global zinc scrap market data:
Global Market Size
Source: Market Research Intellect
Top Importing Countries for Zinc Scrap (2024):
Source: Volza
In order to find reliable zinc metal scrap buyers, you need to target your local market as well as the global market. There are various platforms that let you target both of these goals. Let’s explore those:
1. Is zinc a good scrap metal?
Yes, zinc is a good scrap metal because of its high recycling rate and its wide range of applications.
2. Who is the biggest scrap buyer?
The biggest scrap buyers are from countries like India, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
3. How much zinc is recycled?
Around 30% of the total zinc used globally is recycled zinc.
4. How much is a kg of zinc scrap worth?
Zinc scrap metal price for a kg ranges from INR 190 to 225. This also depends on the zinc scrap’s conditions and the location.
5. How to find reliable zinc scrap buyers?
You can find reliable zinc scrap buyers and importers by signing up on B2B platforms, such as go4WorldBusiness. You can also find them through several trade fairs (India Corr Expo, Recycling Tech International Trade Fair, etc).
6. What are the key factors to consider when exporting zinc scrap?
You need to make sure that your zinc scrap is of the best possible quality (high zinc content) and also that you have all the important documents, like a commercial invoice, bill of lading, IEC, etc.
7. What is the zinc scrap HSN code?
790200 is the HSN code for zinc scrap.
8. What is scrap zinc used for?
Zinc scrap is used for recycling and creating new zinc products like zinc alloys, galvanized steel, etc.
Zinc prices have increased globally by 1.35% to $2,544 per ton because of a weaker dollar and stronger yuan. (Full story: Investing.com India)
