Global zinc and lead premiums were stable over the past week with Asian markets beginning to hold back from conducting business ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday in early February.
China's import appetite was low with only some deals for bonded-warehouse cargoes European zinc premiums flat although backwardation largely easing off US market quiet once again Southeast Asian lead premium stable with 2019 contractual terms in negotiations Chinese zinc import appetite low Fastmarkets' Shanghai zinc premium on a cif basis was flat week on week at $145-155 per tonne on Tuesday January 15. There was low import interest in the spot market two weeks ahead of the week-long Lunar New Year holiday (February 4-10), although the import arbitrage jumped to $159.87 per tonne on January 11 from $18 on January 8. The weekly premium for zinc bonded-warehouse ingots was also unchanged at $160-170 per tonne on Tuesday. Some offices in China will gradually start close for the holiday this week and interest in doing business has been waning. No cif deals were reported, but there were some offers for bonded-warehouse cargoes ranging...