India: Zinc scrap and dross market weakens due to soft procurement

• Demand slowdown pulls zinc dross and scrap prices lower
• Narrow trading band persists amid cautious procurement

India’s zinc scrap and dross market moved down this week, with prices easing in a tight range. BigMint assessed zinc diecast scrap (Middle East origin) at $2,390/t CFR west coast India, down $10/t w-o-w as buyers limited bookings.

LME zinc was reported at $3,047/t, up $53/t from last week’s $2,994/t.

Zinc dross stood at INR 246,000/t ex-Delhi, lower by INR 300/t w-o-w. In Mumbai, prices remained steady at INR 241,000/t ex-works, supported by stable local trades.

A trader indicated that zinc oxide (99% Zn) dropped to INR 237,000/t ex-Delhi, down INR 300/t, due to slower offtake from ceramics, rubber, and fertiliser sectors.

In north India, big-sized zinc scrap (Tukdi, 97% Zn) was offered at INR 246,000/t ex-Delhi, while mid-sized Tukdi (97-98% Zn) held at INR 235,000-237,000/t. Actual buying interest near INR 232,000/t reflected resistance to higher offers.

Gaurang Product to auction 60 t zinc dross

Gaurang Product Pvt Ltd will auction 45 t Zinc Dross (Top) and 15 t Zinc Dross (Bottom) — totalling 60 t zinc dross — along with other materials from Ghaziabad on 1 December 2025 at 2:30 PM via MetalJunction. All materials are sold on an “as is, where is” basis with strict payment and lifting timelines.

Outlook

Zinc scrap and dross prices are expected to stay range-bound. While processor demand may lend support, subdued zinc oxide procurement and steady supply could restrict upside. Global LME trends and import interest will guide the market direction ahead.