Our zinc and lead business combines world-class assets with global marketing reach and expertise.
We mine and process zinc and lead ores in the key mining regions of Australia, South America, Kazakhstan and Canada. And, we smelt and refine zinc and lead at processing operations in Australia, Canada, Spain, Italy, Germany, the UK and Kazakhstan.
We also source and recycle zinc and lead materials in Europe and North America.
Through our marketing activities, we sell zinc and lead concentrates; zinc and lead metals produced from concentrates; and valuable by-products such as sulphuric acid.
We also sell gold and silver, which are typically mined together with zinc and lead ores.
We market zinc and lead not only from our own facilities, but also from third-party producers.
Zinc and lead in figures
$2.6bn
adjusted EBITDA from our zinc assets in 2017
1,090 kt
of zinc production from own sources in 2017
273 kt
of lead production from own sources in 2017
3.9 mt
of zinc and lead metal and concentrates sold via the marketing business in 2017
Uses of zinc and lead
Zinc
Zinc is mainly used to galvanise steel or iron – that is, to apply a zinc coating to stop it rusting. Galvanised steel is used in buildings, cars, white goods and electronics.
The strength and flexibility of zinc alloys mean they are widely used to create die casts for industrial uses – for example, in the production of car or machine parts. Zinc is also used to make brass and bronze.
Zinc oxide is mainly used in the production of rubber, while zinc sulphide has uses such as X - ray screens, in optics, and as a pigment.
Lead
Lead has a wide range of industrial uses including batteries, undersea cables, weights, solders and radiation protection.
Zinc and lead assets
Our combination of mines and smelters means we can produce, process and market zinc and lead across the world.
Kazzinc
Kazakhstan
Kazzinc (69.7%) is a large-scale fully integrated producer of zinc, lead, copper and gold.
Mount Isa Mines
Mount Isa Mines, which also includes the George Fisher zinc–lead mine and the nearby Lady Loretta zinc – lead mine in Queensland. It also produces lead/silver bullion refined at Britannia Refined Metals in the UK.
Glencore Port Operations
Our Port Operations business is an export gateway for the mineral resources of north-west Queensland.
Portovesme
Italy
Portovesme is a lead and zinc smelting and refining facility, based in Sardinia, that processes a range of primary and secondary materials.
Asturiana de Zinc
Spain
Asturiana de Zinc is one of the world’s largest zinc smelters, processing zinc concentrates from our own mines as well as third parties.
Britannia Refined Metals
United Kingdom
Britannia Refined Metals is the largest primary lead producer in Europe, producing primary lead from Mount Isa and third party lead/silver bullion.
Kidd Operations
Canada
Kidd Operations is one of the deepest base metal mines in the world.
Brunswick lead smelter
Canada
a primary lead–silver smelter
Aguilar mine
Argentina
Aguilar mine produces zinc and lead concentrates.
Sinchi Wayra
Bolivia
Sinchi Wayra/Illapa operates four mining units in the Oruro and Potosi regions.
Los Quenuales
Peru
Los Quenuales owns and operates mines in the central Highlands of Peru.
Volcan
Peru
Volcan (23%) is a leading producer of mined lead, zinc and silver in concentrates.
Latest reports and results
Explore the latest reports and results, including financial results, production reports and our annual report.
Video highlights
Introducing Mount Isa Mines, Australia
Leadership
Marketing lead:
Daniel Maté
Industrial lead:
Chris Eskdale