mayday! mayday! , page-19

It appears analysts have lumped graphite and zinc in the same bag in 2013.

22/05:

Survey of Analyst Forecasts Indicates Zinc Prices To Increase

Energy & Metals Consensus Forecasts contains detailed individual analyst and average (mean) price forecasts for the next 10 quarters as well as the long-term outlook for over 30 of the leading analysts and forecasters in the world. The mean forecast predicsts a rise in the price pf 99.99% pure zinc by 23.2% by September 2012.

The main factor is the closure of large zinc mines in the coming years. China's MinMetals Century mine will close within 4 years removing 500,000 tonnes per year from supply. Xstrata's Brunswick mine in Canada, which provides 220,000 tonnes a year, is due to shut in early 2013. Other closures and in Kazakhstan, Canada and Ireland, among others, will be almost 1.5 million tonnes.

Zinc's uses range from coatings to protect iron and steel through galvanization, to sheets for building and a range of chemical applications. The metal is used in the automotive and building and construction industries, with galvanized steel growth being the main driver of zinc demand. The total world zinc consumption was estimated to be 12.45 million tonnes in 2011.

At some point in 2012 or 2013, Japan is also expected to get a boost in zinc demand from reconstruction in the area, after the 2011 Tsunami.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/graphite-and-zinc-price-outlook-is-favourable-through-2013-2012-05-22