FEATURE: Brazil zinc giant growth ambitions undiminished

Frik Els | December 18, 2019 | 12:10 pm
FEATURE: Brazilian zinc giant's ambitions undiminished
Nexa Resources CEO Tito Martins (centre) and colleagues open the New York Stock Exchange October 2017. Image: Nexa Resources.

With prices down nearly 10%  in 2019, now is not an easy time for zinc miners. Measured from its highs hit in March-April the metal – used mostly to galvanize steel and as an alloy –  is down more than 20%. That’s officially a bear market.

Zinc’s fortunes this year compares with that of nickel, which despite a sharp correction recently is still enjoying a 33% gain year to date.  On-again off-again Indonesian ore export bans have buoyed nickel, but most of the excitement surrounding the metal has come from electric vehicles.