Asia
The price trends for zinc pyrithione in Asia closely followed the trend observed in the zinc salt industries, given that they act as the primary feedstock of the commodity. In the first quarter of 2024, the zinc pyrithione market in China experienced increased activity due to the country's slow post-COVID economic and manufacturing recovery.
The downstream sectors, such as paints, coatings, textiles, adhesives, plastics, etc., exhibited only minimal demand, but the overall market performance was dragged down by general consumer spending declines. The market further weakened during the Chinese New Year. Similarly, in India, the imbalance between supply and demand kept the zinc pyrithione prices on a downward trajectory.
Europe
In Europe, zinc pyrithione prices fluctuated throughout the first three months of 2024. The depreciation of the Euro against the US Dollar affected consumer purchasing power, exacerbating the already oscillating demand patterns due to prolonged inflation.
The temporary shutdown of Nyrstar’s Netherlands plant for maintenance briefly stabilized supply and demand dynamics, but the equilibrium was short-lived as prices resumed their decline due to weakened demand. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict further disrupted supply chains, with additional complications arising from shipping hurdles in the Red Sea, leading to an overall subdued market performance in Q1 2024.
North America
In North America, geopolitical and geoeconomic factors negatively impacted the zinc pyrithione market. Rising piracy in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean disrupted global trade, affecting domestic and offshore orders in the US. Consumer interest and purchasing capacity were significantly hampered, leading to bulking inventories of unsold stock, which exerted downward pressure on regional prices. Consequently, zinc pyrithione prices remained low and fluctuated throughout the first quarter of 2024.