Vol. 337 No. 2 (2026)
DOI https://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2026/2/5361
Commodity flows of zinc raw materials in the Russian Federation
Relevance. Status of zinc raw materials as strategic mineral raw materials and changes in their commodity flows over time. Aim. To study the dynamics of Russian commodity flows of zinc products (production, import, export, consumption), which in the 1990s were import-dependent on raw materials and export-oriented on metal. Subsequently, the flow of raw materials became export-oriented, and the export flow for metals practically disappeared with a significant share of national consumption. Methods. Statistical, graphical, logical. Results. From 1996 to 2024, there were major changes in the volume, structure and logistics of zinc product flows in Russia: an increase in the production of zinc ores and concentrates from 280 thousand tons in 1996 to 663 thousand tons in 2024 (an increase of 3.25%/year); a decrease in imports of zinc ores and concentrates from 230 thousand tons in 1996 from consumption) to 117 thousand tons in 2021 (–2.39%/year), while the share of imports from sales decreased from 34 to 16%; an increase in exports of zinc concentrates from 38 thousand tons in 1998 to 367 thousand tons in 2021, the actual creation of export-oriented production of zinc raw materials (an increase of 8.75%/year); domestic consumption of zinc increased from 91 thousand tons in 1996 to 224 thousand tons in 2020 (an increase of 3.4%/year). 34 % of the processing capacity of zinc raw materials has been eliminated due to technical reasons. The resulting shortage of zinc processing plants has not yet been eliminated, and the resulting net export flow of zinc concentrates is poorly controlled. Putting into operation of a new zinc plant with a capacity of up to 120 thousand tons/year is expected in the city of Verkhny Ufaley in the Chelyabinsk region. The unbalanced export flow of zinc concentrate needs to be adjusted in the interests of Russian processors of zinc raw materials.
Keywords:
zinc ores and concentrates, zinc metal, mining, production, export, import, consumption
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