Today we turn our attention to a metal which often passes without notice.
It isn't glamorous like gold or silver, nor is it rare like platinum or rhodium.
It isn't controversial like uranium, strategic like tungsten or cobalt, nor even widely talked about like iron or copper.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
But it has, quietly, had a stellar 2016. It's currently up almost 60%.
Today we're talking zinc
Zinc is in short supply
Here's the chart. If there's a clearer uptrend in any asset class this year, I'd be glad to know what it is.
All of the usual factors have been driving the price. Firstly, there's a lack of supply. China is the world's top producer, contributing some 37% of global supply last year. However, last year it shut down some 26 lead and zinc mines for environmental reasons.
In addition, Australia's Century mine and Ireland's Lisheen mine, which between them produced about 5% of the global supply of zinc, have shut down due to depletion. Meanwhile, Glencore Xstrata's Perseverance and Brunswick mines also recently closed.
The amount warehoused at the London Metal Exchange (LME) has fallen steadily. This chart shows LME stocks over the last five years. You can see how supply is falling each year.
As the zinc supply has dwindled, so the price has risen and there's nothing like a rising price to bring in more buyers.
The next chart is for diehard zinc nerds only the rest of you can skip it. It comes from Nick Laird over at sharelynx.com and plots the zinc price in black over LME supplies in blue since 1971.
The relationship between LME stockpiles and price is not as pure and simple as you might think, but, as I say, this chart is for the interest of zinc buffs only. The rest of us can move on.
After iron, aluminium and copper, zinc is the fourth-most-used metal in the world. (Although be aware that in some years this title falls to titanium). Annual zinc demand stands at 13.4 m tonnes.
Per year, it is a $34bn market. To put that number in some kind of perspective, silver is about an $18bn market and platinum just $8bn. Copper meanwhile, is closer to $150bn.
What is zinc used for?
Galvanising
Batteries
Solder
Nickel-silver
Almost half of annual zinc demand comes from China, which is still building buildings and bridges, despite its economic slowdown. And if Donald Trump's proposed infrastructure splurge comes to fruition, you can expect US zinc demand to grow considerably in the coming years. Zinc is a beneficiary of government infrastructure spending.
How to buy zinc
ETF Securities
Alternatively, you can go down the individual company route. BHP Billiton (LSE: BLT) is the world's largest producer, although, of course, it produces many other commodities as well, so it is not a pure zinc play. I like BHP and, like zinc, it is in a strong uptrend. At 1,326p it has more than doubled from its lows of below 600p at the start of the year.
Other large, UK-listed zinc producers include Anglo-American (LSE: AAL), Vedanta (LSE: VED) and KAZ Minerals (LSE: KAZ). All of these companies are in strong uptrends, and the last in particular is on a bonanza run, so caveat emptor.
A purer play might be Griffin Mining (LSE: GFM), which owns just under 90% of an operating zinc-gold mine about 300 miles north west of Beijing. However, while I'm mentioning the company, that does not constitute a recommendation if you're keen on the theme, then it's one to do your own further research on. Otherwise I'd stick with one of the bigger players.
-
Should you invest in UK equities?The FTSE 100 hit a record high this week, but UK equities remain unloved and undervalued compared to their global and US peers. Should you snap them up at a discount?
-
State pension errors: DWP urged to check for mistakes among divorced peopleFormer pensions minister Steve Webb says there are a high number of divorced women on low state pensions. Now MPs want the DWP to check if there were any errors in “potentially underpaying men and women who are divorced”.
-
These 2 stocks are set to soarTips The returns from these two aluminium and tin stocks could be spectacular when the commodity cycle turns says David J Stevenson.
-
A lesson for investors from a ill-fated silver mineAnalysis Mining methods may have changed since the industry’s early days, but the business hasn’t – digging ore from the ground and selling it at a profit. The trouble is, says Dominic Frisby, the scams haven't changed either.
-
The natural resources industry is in a tight spot – which is bad news for the rest of usOpinion The natural resources industry is in a bind. We need it to produce more energy and metals, but it has been starved of investment, plagued by supply chain issues, and hobbled by red tape. That’s bad news for everyone, says Dominic Frisby.
-
How to invest in the copper boomTips The price of copper has slipped recently. But that’s temporary – the long-term outlook is very bullish, says Dominic Frisby. Here, he explains the best ways to invest in copper.
-
Why investors should consider adding Glencore to their portfoliosTips Commodities giant Glencore is well placed to capitalise on rising commodity prices and supply chain disruption, says Rupert Hargreaves. Here’s why you should consider buying Glencore shares.
-
How to invest in the multi-decade boom in industrial metalsTips The price of key industrial metals has already begun to rise. The renewable energy transition will take them higher, says David Stevenson. Here's how to profit.
-
Avoid China’s stockmarket – here’s what to invest in insteadOpinion China’s stockmarket is not a good place for investors to be. But you can't just ignore the world's second-largest economy, says Dominic Frisby. Here, he picks an alternative China play.
-
6 gold funds to buy to add exposure to the yellow metalGold Gold funds are one of the best ways of adding gold to your portfolio. We pick some of the best gold and gold-mining funds.
