- LME prices inch up, supporting higher domestic tags
- Tata Steel schedules 2 zinc scrap auctions for this week
India’s zinc scrap and dross market witnessed an upward movement this week, supported by sustained demand from local processors and steady inquiry levels.
BigMint assessed zinc diecast scrap (Middle East origin) at $2,425/tonne (t) CFR west coast India, up by $30/t w-o-w, reflecting firm buying interest from secondary producers.
Zinc dross prices also inched higher across key regions. In Delhi, values rose to INR 244,000/t ex-works, up by INR 2,000/t w-o-w, while Mumbai prices strengthened to INR 240,000/t ex-works, buoyed by consistent procurement from galvanisers and oxide manufacturers.
At the time of reporting, London Metal Exchange (LME) zinc three-month prices stood at $3,032/t, up marginally by $12/t from $3,020/t last week, offering additional price support to the domestic market.
In the north Indian market, big-sized zinc scrap (Tukdi, 97% Zn) was offered at INR 247,000-248,000/t ex-Delhi, while mid-sized Tukdi (97-98% Zn) was quoted at INR 235,000-236,000/t. Actual trades were largely around INR 232,000/t, indicating a slight bid-offer gap amid selective buying.
Meanwhile, zinc oxide (99% Zn) prices were heard at INR 225,000/t ex-Delhi, with procurement momentum improving from the ceramics, rubber, and fertiliser sectors.
Tata Steel announces consecutive zinc scrap auctions this week
Tata Steel has scheduled two zinc scrap auctions this week, offering notable volumes of secondary zinc material to the market. On 9 October 2025, the company will auction 7 t of zinc dross and 10 t of flux skimming from its Jamshedpur EPA BMW JMT site, with the lots to be sold on an as-is-where-is basis and no physical inspection allowed.
The second auction is set for 10 October 2025 from Tata Steel’s Shiv Sambhu Dhanbad unit, featuring 8 t of zinc dust, 30 t of zinc ash, and 5 t of zinc dross. Market participants are closely watching these sales, as they are expected to provide pricing cues and influence short-term scrap availability in the domestic market.
Additionally, Tata Steel (Metaliks Division, Kharagpur) has scheduled an online forward auction on 14 October 2025 at 1:30 PM for the disposal of 15 tonnes of zinc-aluminium dust through MetalJunction.
Outlook
Traders expect zinc scrap and dross prices to remain firm in the near term, supported by healthy domestic demand and a relatively stable LME trend. Upcoming auctions could also offer price cues for secondary buyers heading into the mid-October trading cycle.
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