THE MARKET

摘要

Heading towards the close of the second quarter in 2012, things are looking bleak. Following a resilient performance in the earlier part of the year, zinc prices averaged $1,930/t (87.5c/lb) in May, down 3% from April, as waning demand pressured prices. Indeed, AME estimates that demand for finished zinc was 3% lower in the first quarter of this year than in the previous period. Similarly, lead prices in May reached their lowest point for the year at $1,913/t (86.7c/lb) on the 30~(th) May as first quarter demand sunk by an estimated 9% as unseasonably mild temperatures hit demand. The monthly average price was $1,999/t (90.7c/lb), a month-on-month decline of 3%.