Compare zinc offers only after putting them on the same basis. Use one London Metal Exchange (LME) cash or three-month benchmark and one quotation period, separate the metal value from the supplier’s premium, convert every offer to a delivered cost per metric tonne, and then verify that the chemistry, physical form, origin, logistics and commercial terms actually meet your specification. A low headline number is not a bargain if it is based on a different LME month, a lower grade, an origin with higher freight, or material without lot-level documentation.
This guide gives you a repeatable method for comparing zinc grades and suppliers without relying on an unverified spot-price snapshot. LME prices, regional premiums, freight and currencies move continuously, so a quote is meaningful only when its benchmark, quotation period and delivery terms are explicit.
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What a comparable zinc quote contains
An industrial zinc quotation normally has two economic layers:
- Metal component: an LME cash or three-month price, or another agreed benchmark, applied to a stated quotation period.
- Premium: an amount above the benchmark that reflects the brand or producer, physical form, origin, delivery region and sometimes financing or availability.
Fastmarkets describes special high grade (SHG) zinc premiums as dollars per tonne on top of an LME cash basis. A supplier may instead quote against LME three-month. Those bases are not interchangeable: the same premium can produce a different total when the underlying LME month changes.
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Before comparing numbers, write down the benchmark, quotation period, currency, unit, delivery point and Incoterm for every offer. If any of those fields is missing, you do not yet have a comparable price; you have an incomplete indication.
The minimum quote record
| Field | What to record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Benchmark | LME cash or LME three-month (or another contract explicitly agreed) | Sets the metal reference used in the formula |
| Quotation period | Exact date, month, average or pricing window | Prevents two offers from using different market periods |
| Premium | Amount and currency per metric tonne, including any indexation | Shows the supplier-specific component separately |
| Currency and unit | For example, USD per metric tonne delivered | Avoids false differences caused by exchange rates or units |
| Delivery basis | Named destination, Incoterm, shipping window and point where title/risk transfer | Determines which logistics costs remain with you |
| Product identity | Grade, standard edition, physical form, producer and origin | Confirms that the material can be used in your process |
Know which zinc grade you are buying
Grade names are not interchangeable marketing labels. ASTM B6-23 covers five zinc grades: LME grade, special high grade, high grade, intermediate grade and Prime Western grade. The specification controls lead, iron, cadmium, aluminum, copper, tin and other non-zinc elements. The exact limits and test requirements should be taken from the standard edition written into your purchase contract.
“This specification covers zinc metal made from ore or other material by a process of distillation or by electrolysis in five grades as follows: LME grade, special high grade, high grade, intermediate grade, and prime western grade.”
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Indicative commercial figures illustrate the order of magnitude of the purity differences: SHG is commonly presented as 99.995% zinc, HG as 99.95% zinc and Prime Western as 98.0% zinc. Fastmarkets defines SHG zinc ingot as a minimum 99.995% purity. Treat these numbers as checkpoints, not as a substitute for the actual specification. Require a current certificate of analysis (CoA) for the lot you will receive.
| Grade or label | Indicative zinc content | How to use the figure |
|---|---|---|
| Special high grade (SHG) | 99.995% minimum in Fastmarkets’ definition | Confirm all impurity limits and lot results on the CoA |
| High grade (HG) | 99.95% Zn, an indicative commercial supplier figure | Check the agreed standard and the margin to each impurity limit |
| Prime Western | 98.0% Zn, an indicative commercial supplier figure | Do not assume it is interchangeable with SHG or HG in galvanizing, die casting or chemical uses |
Purity alone does not determine suitability. Two lots with the same stated zinc percentage can have different lead, iron, cadmium, aluminum, copper or tin levels, and those differences can affect galvanizing appearance, bath control, casting behavior or regulatory compliance.
Standards and exclusions to resolve before ordering
- Write the exact standard and edition into the request, such as ASTM B6-23, EN 1179 or ISO 752, rather than saying only “high-purity zinc.”
- Ask whether the supplier is certifying the material to the named standard or merely reporting an internal grade name.
- Continuous galvanizing grades are specified separately in ASTM B852; ASTM B6 is not a substitute when your process requires that product category.
- ASTM B6 does not cover zinc produced by sweating or remelting secondary zinc. Ask directly whether the material is primary zinc or secondary/remelted material and document the answer.
Normalize the metal price before comparing suppliers
Use the following sequence for every offer. Keep the benchmark and premium visible as separate columns in your worksheet; collapsing them into one number makes later price adjustments difficult to audit.
- Choose the benchmark. Use LME cash or LME three-month, and use the same basis for all suppliers unless your contract deliberately uses different hedging conventions.
- Fix the quotation period. Specify a single day, a monthly average or another defined pricing window. Record the dates and the time zone if the supplier’s formula uses a market close.
- Record the premium formula. Capture a fixed premium, a floating regional premium, or a formula with escalators. Note whether it is quoted per metric tonne and in which currency.
- Identify premium drivers. Brand, physical form, origin and delivery region can all change the premium. A producer-branded ingot and an unbranded alternative are not economically identical if your customers or process require the former.
- Convert units and currency. Convert pounds, short tons or another unit to metric tonnes. Use one documented exchange rate and date for all offers, or leave currency conversion as a separately visible assumption.
A useful normalized expression is:
Metal price = LME benchmark for the quotation period + supplier premium
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallDo not insert a current LME number into a long-lived comparison unless you have a timestamped source and intend to publish that date-specific figure. For purchasing decisions, the formula and the pricing window are more durable than a single volatile spot quote.
Calculate the delivered cost, not just the quoted metal price
Once the metal component is normalized, add every cost required to put accepted material at the same destination:
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Delivered cost = benchmark + premium + freight + insurance + duties + financing/payment-term cost + packaging + inspection + handling
Apply the same destination, quantity and acceptance assumptions to every supplier. If an Incoterm places ocean freight, import clearance or risk on you, include those items even when the supplier’s headline quote appears lower.
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The following example shows the method with deliberately hypothetical numbers. It is not a current LME quotation or a supplier offer.
| Component (USD per metric tonne) | Supplier A | Supplier B |
|---|---|---|
| Common LME three-month benchmark for the same quotation month | 2,450 | 2,450 |
| Premium | 85 | 55 |
| Ocean freight and inland delivery to the same plant | 70 | 145 |
| Insurance, duty and clearance | 35 | 35 |
| Packaging and handling | 18 | 32 |
| Inspection and sampling | 10 | 10 |
| Illustrative delivered total | 2,668 | 2,727 |
Supplier B has the lower premium but the higher delivered total because its logistics and packaging assumptions are different. In a real bid, replace each illustrative line with a documented charge, state whether it is recurring or one-time, and show taxes or recoverable duties separately from permanent cost.
Compare grades and impurity margins, not only zinc percentage
For process risk, calculate the margin between each reported impurity and the contractual limit. A lot that barely passes may be less valuable than one with a comfortable margin, especially when your operation blends heats or when rejections interrupt production.
| Check | Evidence to request | Buyer decision |
|---|---|---|
| Zinc content | Lot-level assay and test method | Confirm it meets the stated grade minimum |
| Lead, iron, cadmium, aluminum, copper and tin | Numerical result and applicable limit for each element | Calculate margin to the limit; flag elements critical to your process |
| Total non-zinc elements | Standard-defined total or supplier calculation | Ensure the calculation follows the agreed standard |
| Traceability | CoA tied to heat, batch or lot number | Reject generic certificates that cannot be linked to delivered material |
| Test authority | Producer laboratory, independent laboratory or agreed method | Define when an independent retest controls acceptance |
Ask for the complete chemistry table rather than a single “99.995%” statement. If the supplier will not provide the limits, test methods and lot linkage, treat the quote as technically unverified even if the price is attractive.
Check physical form and handling requirements
Zinc is commonly traded as ingot, but ingot dimensions, unit weight and bundle configuration affect yield, labor and freight density. Capture the details that determine whether the product can be unloaded and fed into your operation:
- Individual ingot weight and dimensional tolerances.
- Bundle or pallet weight, number of ingots and strapping method.
- Packaging material, weather protection and labeling.
- Markings for producer, grade, heat or lot number.
- Permitted surface condition, oxidation, dross or contamination.
- Loading method and equipment required at your receiving site.
Require the physical description in the purchase specification, not only in an email quotation. A product that meets chemistry but cannot be safely handled may create an unpriced conversion cost.
Evaluate origin, delivery and Incoterms on one basis
Record the producer, country of origin, warehouse or delivery point and Incoterm for every bid. Incoterms allocate transport, insurance, customs responsibilities and risk at defined points; they do not by themselves guarantee a delivered price.
Questions for the logistics line
- Where does title and risk transfer?
- Which party books freight, and is the freight charge fixed, indexed or pass-through?
- Who pays export documentation, import duty, customs brokerage, port storage and demurrage?
- What is the named delivery point: port, warehouse, terminal or your plant?
- What shipping window and transit-time assumption supports the quote?
- What happens if a shipment misses the window or arrives damaged?
Use one destination and one delivery term when ranking offers. If suppliers cannot quote on the same term, calculate the missing legs yourself and display the assumptions beside the total rather than hiding them in a contingency.
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Build a supplier due-diligence file
A price comparison is only as reliable as the documents behind it. Request the following before awarding an order:
- Exact grade and standard edition, such as ASTM B6-23, EN 1179 or ISO 752.
- Complete chemistry limits for lead, iron, cadmium, aluminum, copper, tin and other non-zinc elements.
- Current CoA tied to the actual lot or batch, including test methods.
- Producer name, country of origin and evidence of chain-of-custody or lot traceability.
- Physical form, ingot weight, dimensions, bundle or pallet configuration and packaging description.
- Benchmark, premium formula, quotation period, currency and payment terms.
- Minimum order quantity, lot size, production lead time and shipping window.
- Acceptance procedure, sampling plan, independent retest rights and remedies for out-of-spec material.
- Confirmation that the material is primary zinc or a disclosed secondary/remelted product.
Keep the documents with the purchase order and receiving records. A generic certificate downloaded from a supplier website is not equivalent to a certificate tied to your shipment.
Compare commercial terms that can change the real cost
Two suppliers can have identical delivered metal costs but very different working-capital and continuity risks. Put these terms into the same comparison sheet:
| Commercial factor | What to measure | How it affects the decision |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum order and lot size | Tonnes per release and annual commitment | Large lots may lower premium but increase inventory and price exposure |
| Payment terms | Advance payment, letter of credit, days after invoice or shipment | Convert the financing difference into a cost using your approved rate |
| Lead time | Order-to-ready date and transit time | Longer lead time requires more safety stock or creates outage risk |
| Price validity | Hours or days and conditions for repricing | Short validity can make a nominally low quote unusable |
| Supply continuity | Available capacity, alternate origin and allocation policy | Reliability can justify a premium when a line stoppage is expensive |
| Quality remedies | Replacement, refund, sorting, freight and claim deadlines | Defines your financial exposure when material fails acceptance |
Do not assign an arbitrary “reliability premium.” Quantify the consequence of delay, emergency freight, line stoppage or requalification, then use that estimate consistently in your internal decision.
Use a weighted scorecard after price normalization
When multiple offers meet the technical minimum, rank them across six axes:
- Delivered price: normalized benchmark, premium and all destination costs.
- Grade and impurity margin: distance from each contractual limit, not merely the zinc percentage.
- Producer and certificate quality: traceability, testing method and responsiveness to document requests.
- Form, lot size and packaging: compatibility with your unloading and production equipment.
- Origin, logistics and Incoterms: transit, customs exposure, freight volatility and risk transfer.
- Payment, lead time and continuity: working capital, schedule reliability and alternate supply.
Set pass/fail gates for chemistry, documentation and physical form before assigning commercial scores. A supplier that fails a mandatory grade requirement should not remain in contention because of a lower price.
Run an RFQ that produces comparable answers
Send every supplier the same technical and commercial template. The following sequence reduces clarification rounds:
- State the application and required grade. Name the standard and edition, required zinc minimum, impurity limits, physical form and acceptable alternatives.
- Specify the quantity profile. Give total annual tonnes, shipment lot size, release schedule and permitted over- or under-delivery.
- Define the pricing formula. Ask for LME cash or three-month, the quotation period, premium in currency per metric tonne and any adjustment mechanism.
- Define delivery. Name the destination, required Incoterm, shipping window, packaging, labeling and unloading constraints.
- Require documentation with the bid. Request a sample CoA, standard reference, producer and origin, physical specification and proposed acceptance procedure.
- Request a complete cost breakdown. Separate freight, insurance, duties, financing, packaging, inspection and handling from the metal component.
- Set validity and exceptions. Ask how long the offer remains valid and list every assumption or exclusion.
Return clarification questions in writing and issue one controlled revision to all bidders when a requirement changes. That preserves the integrity of the comparison.
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Common comparison mistakes and fixes
Comparing different LME bases
Problem: one supplier uses LME cash and another uses LME three-month, so the apparent premium difference is not meaningful.
Fix: restate both offers on one benchmark or show the basis spread explicitly and obtain approval for the conversion method.
Ignoring the quotation period
Problem: a spot-day quote is compared with a monthly average or a future pricing window.
Fix: record exact dates and apply the same window to every bid.
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Problem: “SHG” or “HG” is accepted without a named standard, impurity table or CoA.
Fix: write the standard edition and numerical limits into the specification and make lot-level certification a condition of payment or acceptance.
Looking only at zinc percentage
Problem: a high zinc number hides an impurity that is critical to your process.
Fix: compare each element and calculate margin to the contractual limit.
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Problem: freight, duty, packaging or inspection appears later as a surcharge.
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Fix: require a line-item cost build-up to the same destination and Incoterm.
Accepting a generic certificate
Problem: the document is not tied to the heat or lot that arrives.
Fix: require the lot number on the CoA, packing list, labels and receiving record, with an agreed independent retest process.
Overlooking secondary or remelted material
Problem: the material source is unclear, while the buyer assumes primary zinc covered by the chosen standard.
Fix: ask for a written source declaration. ASTM B6 excludes zinc produced by sweating or remelting secondary zinc, so any alternative must be separately specified and approved.
Contract clauses that protect the comparison
Translate the successful quote into measurable purchase-order language:
- Benchmark, quotation period, currency, unit and premium formula.
- Grade, standard edition, complete chemistry limits and test methods.
- Lot identification, CoA timing and document retention.
- Ingot dimensions, weight tolerances, bundle configuration and packaging.
- Origin, producer, delivery point, Incoterm and shipping window.
- Sampling plan, inspection authority, acceptance limits and independent retest rights.
- Price-adjustment rules for benchmark movement, freight or duties.
- Remedies for nonconforming material, late delivery, damage or missing documents.
- Minimum order, release flexibility, payment terms and cancellation rights.
Make the formula auditable: a person who did not negotiate the deal should be able to reproduce the invoice from the benchmark publication, the agreed premium and the documented logistics charges.
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Use this order when a bid arrives:
- Reject or clarify any offer without a benchmark, quotation period, currency, delivery basis or grade.
- Confirm the grade and standard against your process specification; do not substitute a lower grade for a lower price without engineering approval.
- Normalize all metal components to one LME basis and quotation period.
- Convert every offer to delivered cost per metric tonne at the same destination.
- Verify CoA quality, lot traceability, producer, origin and primary-versus-secondary status.
- Check physical form, packaging, lot size, lead time and receiving capability.
- Value payment terms, continuity and failure remedies using the same internal assumptions.
- Document the award rationale and retain the comparison with the purchase order.
The result should identify not merely the lowest number, but the lowest acceptable total cost for material that can be received, processed and defended in an audit.
What to remember about published purity and price figures
The 99.995% minimum for SHG is a Fastmarkets definition published in 2025. The 99.95% HG and 98.0% Prime Western figures are indicative values reported by a commercial supplier and should be verified against the supplier’s current CoA and the standard in your contract. No single current spot-price figure is used here because LME prices, regional premiums, freight and currency are volatile; a timestamped benchmark and quotation formula belong in each live RFQ.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
