Zinc
Primarily used for galvanizing steel to protect against corrosion. Also used in brass alloys, die-casting, rubber manufacturing, and agricultural fertilizers.
Where Zinc sits among tracked minerals
Share of global output from the #1 producing country, across all 20 minerals PlainCountries tracks
32.3% 15th of 20 higher than 5 of 20 tracked minerals
Top-producer share of global output, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more tracked minerals. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024 · 2023 data year
Global Production Overview
Production by Country (2023)
| Rank | Country | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 32.3% |
| 2 | Peru | 11.5% |
| 3 | Australia | 8.5% |
| 4 | India | 6.2% |
| 5 | United States | 5.8% |
| 6 | Mexico | 5.5% |
| 7 | Canada | 2.4% |
| 8 | Sweden | 2.0% |
| 9 | Russia | 1.8% |
| 10 | Kazakhstan | 2.5% |
Click a country name to view its full profile. Production share percentages are calculated from USGS estimated global production.
Nearby Base Metals by leader share
Next read: Tin · All minerals
Where Zinc sits on supply concentration
Zinc is mid-pack on supply concentration here, per the figures above. Zinc is a base-metal row: large-volume industrial use means a shift at a major mine can move prices even when the metal is not geologically scarce. Primarily used for galvanizing steel to protect against corrosion. Also used in brass alloys, die-casting, rubber manufacturing, and agricultural fertilizers. 2023 global mine production ≈ 13.0 Mt.
USGS does not publish a single net-import-reliance percentage for Zinc in this release; use the country production table and the linked country profiles for exposure context. Top-five share is 64% (China, Peru, Australia, India, United States). Mid-concentration minerals are where #2/#3 shares still matter for scenario work.
Closest same-category neighbour by leader share: Tin. Figures are USGS estimates for 2023 from the 2024 Mineral Commodity Summaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country produces the most Zinc?
China is the world's leading producer of Zinc, accounting for approximately 32% of global mine production in 2023.
How is Zinc used?
Primarily used for galvanizing steel to protect against corrosion. Also used in brass alloys, die-casting, rubber manufacturing, and agricultural fertilizers.
What is global Zinc production?
Global mine production of Zinc was approximately 13.0 Mt in 2023, measured in thousand metric tons.
How reliant is the US on imported Zinc?
US import reliance data for Zinc is not published as a single percentage in this release. Refer to the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries for current estimates.
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024 (U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center). Source: USGS National Minerals Information Center, data year 2023. Values are USGS estimates and may include revisions. US import reliance data from USGS.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.