Shanghai zinc futures jump to more than one-month high on production cuts
BEIJING, Aug 23 (Reuters) -Zinc futures prices climbed for a third straight session on the Shanghai Futures Exchange to their highest in over a month, underpinned by prospects of reduced supply and a seasonal uplift in demand in the coming months.
The most active zinc contract SZNcv1 on the Shanghai exchange outperformed the base metals complex to close daytime trade 1.5% higher at 24,000 yuan ($3,363.18) a metric ton, the highest level since July 17.
The metal used to make galvanised steel has gained 5.3% this month and is up 10.2% from the four-month low of 21,780 yuan a ton set on Aug. 8.
Open interest - the number of outstanding contracts due to mature or be rolled over at the next settlement date - for the contract also rose for a third consecutive day, gaining 12% on the day to 126,000 lots, or 630,000 tons.
The price rally was triggered by an agreement among 14 major Chinese zinc smelters to cut production in response to falling treatment charges (TCs) that have eroded profits.
Treatment charges for zinc concentrates have fallen to historical lows amid tight supply, analysts have said.
Smelters have already curbed production in July and August, said analysts, with China's zinc output falling for a second straight month in July, down by 9.2% from June to 536,000 tons last month for the lowest level for a single month in a year, official data showed.
"Output may be cut by between 30,000 and 40,000 tons each month from September to December, considering the already reduced output in July and August, with the total reduction accounting for 3-4% of total annual zinc ingot output," analysts at Zijin Tianfeng Futures said in a note.
($1 = 7.1361 Chinese yuan)
Reporting by Amy Lv and Tony Munroe
Editing by David Goodman
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