re: zinc requirements, page-2

re: zinc requirements The benchmark is set/negotiated between the big concentrate poroducers and consumers. In the zinc business the big miner is Teck Cominco with the Red Dog and Antamina mines in particular. On the smelter side it is Toho zinc, Mitsubishsi etc. In a nutshell the benchmark is set between Teck and the Japanese smelters. CBH's terms will follow this benchmark

The period is 12 months but often structured in a brick format i.e the negotiation to take place in late 06/early 07 will be for 50% of 2007 sales and 50% of 2008 sales
The purpose is to smooth out peaks and troughs. Not sure whteher CBH use the brick format or not?