Zinc moves as die-cast scrap and galvanising residues to secondary refiners in India, China and Europe; lead moves mostly as batteries, within the country of collection, under hazardous-waste rules that limit the international trade.
Zinc moves as die-cast scrap and galvanising residues to secondary refiners in India, China and Europe; lead moves mostly as batteries, within the country of collection, under hazardous-waste rules that limit the international trade.
Zinc and lead are the two base-metal scrap trades most shaped by regulation. Zinc scrap comes in two forms: die-cast parts (Saves and Scope) from dismantling and casting plants, and dross and ash from galvanising lines. The first goes back to die-casters and refiners; the second to refiners and zinc-oxide makers. The exporters are the galvanising and automotive economies — the United States, Europe, Japan, South Korea — and the importers are India, China and the European refiners in Belgium, Germany and Spain.
Lead scrap is almost entirely batteries. Because a used battery is hazardous waste under the Basel Convention and under the rules of most countries, batteries are normally smelted within the country of collection by licensed secondary smelters, and the international trade is small, licensed and documented. Soft lead (sheet, pipe, sheathing) and lead-sheathed cable move more freely but are still controlled in many jurisdictions.
| From | To | What moves | How it ships |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States, Europe, Japan | India, China, Belgium, Germany, Spain | Zinc die-cast (Saves/Scope), zinc dross and ash | Containers; dross with waste-shipment documents where required |
| Galvanising lines worldwide | Domestic and regional refiners | Top and bottom dross, zinc ash | Road; export under residue paperwork |
| Battery collection networks | Licensed secondary lead smelters in the same country or region | Used lead-acid batteries (Rains) | Road and short sea; Basel consent for any cross-border movement |
| United Kingdom, Europe, Gulf | India, South Korea, EU smelters | Soft lead, lead sheathing, battery plates | Containers under licence |
Zinc die cast is priced off the LME zinc price with a discount for plating and steel inserts; dross is sold on zinc assay. Batteries are bought by weight at a percentage of the LME lead price, reflecting roughly 60 per cent lead content; soft lead sells close to LME lead.
The Basel Convention lists used lead-acid batteries and lead-bearing residues among the wastes needing prior informed consent to cross a border, and the EU, the US and most Asian countries have matching national rules. Zinc dross may be classified as a residue requiring documentation. India licenses battery importers and recyclers under its battery-waste rules. Our Basel guide explains the mechanics.
Each country page carries its mills, smelters, yards, price references and the named firms on this site.