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The only reliable way to compare zinc quotes is to put every offer on the same metal benchmark, quotation period, currency, delivered location and technical specification. Treat the LME cash or three-month price as the metal component, show each supplier’s premium separately, then add freight, insurance, duties, financing, packaging, inspection and handling. A low headline premium is not a low delivered cost if it covers a different grade, origin, Incoterm or lot size.
For chemistry, identify the agreed standard and obtain a certificate of analysis for the actual lot. ASTM B6-23 recognizes LME grade, special high grade (SHG), high grade (HG), intermediate grade and Prime Western zinc; indicative commercial purities often quoted are 99.995% Zn for SHG, 99.95% for HG and 98.0% for Prime Western. Those figures are checkpoints, not substitutes for the purchase specification or a current lot certificate.
Start with a common benchmark and quotation period
Zinc is normally quoted as a metal benchmark plus a physical premium. The London Metal Exchange (LME) publishes official zinc prices and provides contracts used to hedge and take delivery of industrial metals. A supplier may base the metal component on the LME cash price or the LME three-month price. Fastmarkets describes SHG zinc premiums as dollars per tonne on top of an LME cash basis.
Record the benchmark before comparing any premium. “LME” by itself is incomplete: cash and three-month prices can differ, and a quote based on a monthly average is not directly comparable with one based on a single prompt-day price. Write down the exact quotation period, such as a named month, pricing window or shipment-linked average, and the currency.
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| Quote element | What to record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Metal benchmark | LME cash, LME three-month or another explicitly agreed basis | Different maturities produce different metal values and hedge exposures. |
| Quotation period | Prompt date, monthly average, pricing month or other defined window | A spot observation cannot be compared fairly with an average unless the pricing rule is normalized. |
| Premium | Amount or formula in currency per metric tonne, including its reference basis | The premium can reflect brand, physical form, origin and delivery region. |
| Currency | Currency for both benchmark conversion and premium | Exchange-rate movements can otherwise masquerade as a supplier price difference. |
| Delivery basis | Named destination, Incoterm and whether charges are included | An ex-works offer and a delivered offer do not represent the same cost. |
Ask suppliers to show the metal component and premium on separate lines. If a quote gives only a single all-in number, request the formula used to derive it and the date or period to which the benchmark applies. Keep the original quote and your normalized calculation together so that changes in the LME price, currency or freight can be audited.
Understand the zinc grades before comparing offers
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. It also establishes test and acceptance requirements that are more precise than a percentage printed in a sales listing.
| Grade or designation | Indicative zinc content | Use of the figure |
|---|---|---|
| Special high grade (SHG) | 99.995% Zn minimum in Fastmarkets’ 2025 definition | Use as a minimum specification checkpoint; verify every impurity limit and the actual lot certificate. |
| High grade (HG) | 99.95% Zn, indicative figure reported by CBIL/CommBril supplier information accessed in 2026 | Indicative commercial description, not a replacement for the agreed standard and certificate. |
| Prime Western | 98.0% Zn, indicative figure reported by CBIL/CommBril supplier information accessed in 2026 | Lower nominal zinc content can be acceptable for some processes, but impurity limits and process suitability must be specified. |
| LME grade | Not stated in the cited material as a single percentage | Use the applicable LME deliverable specification and require supporting documentation. |
| Intermediate grade | Not stated in the cited material as a single percentage | Do not infer chemistry from the name; obtain the full standard table and lot certificate. |
The 99.995% SHG value is a minimum purity definition, not a guarantee that every commercially offered ingot meets all requirements for your process. A zinc lot can exceed a nominal zinc percentage while failing a critical limit for lead, cadmium, iron or another controlled element. Compare the complete chemistry table, not just “99.995%” versus “99.95%.”
Do not confuse ASTM B6 with continuous-galvanizing specifications
ASTM states that B6 covers zinc metal made from ore or other material by distillation or electrolysis in five grades: LME grade, special high grade, high grade, intermediate grade and Prime Western grade. Continuous galvanizing grades are specified separately in ASTM B852. If your line requires a galvanizing-specific grade, state B852 or the relevant agreed standard in the request for quotation rather than assuming a B6 grade is interchangeable.
Ask whether the zinc is primary or secondary material
ASTM B6 does not cover zinc produced by sweating or remelting secondary zinc. Require the supplier to identify whether the material is primary zinc or secondary/remelted material, and state in the purchase specification whether secondary material is permitted. This distinction affects both the applicable standard and the impurity profile you must review.
Normalize every supplier quote to the same delivered unit
Use a worksheet that converts all offers to a delivered cost per metric tonne at the same destination. Follow this sequence for each quote:
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- Fix the benchmark. Record LME cash or LME three-month, the pricing date or averaging period, and the currency.
- Separate benchmark and premium. Show the supplier’s premium independently and document whether it is quoted per metric tonne, as a differential to LME, or through a formula.
- Describe the premium drivers. Capture brand or producer, physical form, country or region of origin, warehouse or delivery region, and any market-specific surcharge.
- Convert the unit. Express every offer in the same currency per metric tonne. Check whether the quoted weight is net metal, gross packed weight or a lot estimate.
- Add logistics and transaction costs. Include freight, insurance, duties, financing or payment-term cost, packaging, inspection and handling. State which party pays each item.
- Align commercial terms. Record minimum order, lot size, lead time, shipping window, delivery point and Incoterm.
- Check acceptance evidence. Require a certificate of analysis tied to the lot or batch, traceable physical details and remedies for out-of-specification material.
The normalized calculation can be expressed as:
Delivered cost per metric tonne = benchmark metal value + supplier premium + freight + insurance + duties + financing cost + packaging + inspection + handling
Keep taxes, rebates and credits visible rather than burying them in the premium. If a charge is conditional, show a base case and the condition that changes it. A supplier that prices at destination may already include several components; ask for a breakdown before concluding that its premium is higher.
Compare the technical product, not only the price
Match the standard and chemistry table
Write the exact grade and standard edition in the RFQ, for example “ASTM B6-23 SHG,” “EN 1179” or “ISO 752,” when that is the requirement. Do not accept “industrial zinc” as a specification. Request limits for lead, iron, cadmium, aluminum, copper, tin and total non-zinc elements, plus the test method and acceptance basis required by your quality system.
Require a current certificate of analysis
A certificate of analysis (CoA) should identify the producer, lot or batch, production date or release date, test results, units, applicable standard and authorized issuer. A generic certificate, an old sample certificate or a marketing statement does not prove that the offered shipment meets your limits. Tie the certificate to the exact lot number on the packing or shipping documents.
Check physical form and handling requirements
Two offers with identical chemistry can have different practical costs if one is supplied in small ingots and the other in large bundles. Record ingot weight, dimensions, bundle or pallet configuration, wrapping, labeling and whether the material is suitable for your charging, melting or galvanizing equipment. Confirm net and gross weights, tolerances and the method used to determine invoice weight.
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Define traceability and rejection rights
State how you will sample and test incoming material, the acceptance limits, notification period and remedy for an out-of-specification lot. Remedies may include replacement, credit, return freight or another agreed mechanism; write the selected remedy into the purchase terms rather than relying on an informal promise.
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Compare suppliers across six decision axes
After all offers meet the minimum chemistry and documentation requirements, compare them on the following axes. Keep technical disqualifiers separate from commercial preferences: a lower price cannot compensate for a grade that your process cannot use.
| Axis | Questions to answer | Evidence to request |
|---|---|---|
| Delivered economics | What is the normalized cost per metric tonne at the same destination and pricing period? | Benchmark, premium formula, freight, insurance, duties, financing, packaging, inspection and handling breakdown. |
| Grade and impurity margin | How far are the reported results below your maximum limits? | Current lot CoA and full chemistry table for lead, iron, cadmium, aluminum, copper, tin and other controlled elements. |
| Producer and certificate quality | Can the producer and lot be traced, and are results issued under a controlled process? | Producer identity, country of origin, batch number, test method and signed or otherwise authorized CoA. |
| Form, lot size and packaging | Will the ingot dimensions, bundle size and packaging fit your operation and storage? | Technical drawing or dimensions, net/gross weights, pallet plan, labels and photographs or approved samples where appropriate. |
| Origin, logistics and Incoterms | Who bears transport risk, import obligations and delivery variability? | Origin, warehouse or delivery point, Incoterm, shipping route, insurance responsibility and customs information. |
| Payment, lead time and continuity | How do payment terms, production lead time and allocation policy affect total cost and supply risk? | Payment schedule, credit or financing assumptions, quoted lead time, shipping window, minimum order and continuity plan. |
Use a pass/fail gate for mandatory requirements first: grade, chemistry, documentation, origin restrictions and delivery capability. Only then rank the qualifying suppliers on normalized cost, schedule, packaging and commercial flexibility. This prevents an apparently cheap but technically unsuitable offer from winning a spreadsheet comparison.
How premiums differ even when the LME basis is the same
The premium is not a universal quality surcharge. It can reflect the producer or brand, physical form, origin, delivery region, warehouse availability and the seller’s logistics. Two SHG offers on the same LME cash basis may therefore have different premiums without either quote being mathematically wrong.
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Ask the supplier to state whether the premium is fixed for the quotation period, reset monthly, linked to a regional assessment or conditional on volume and destination. Confirm whether the premium applies to net tonnes delivered or to another weight basis. If a quote uses LME three-month while another uses LME cash, convert both to a common basis using an agreed market convention or request a rebid; do not simply compare the displayed differentials.
Worked normalization example (illustrative method)
The following is a method example, not a current market quotation. Suppose Supplier A quotes “LME cash plus a premium” delivered under one Incoterm, while Supplier B quotes an all-in destination price based on LME three-month. Request enough detail to split Supplier B into its benchmark, premium and logistics components.
- Choose the common basis: LME cash for the agreed quotation month, in the purchasing currency.
- Ask Supplier B to show the adjustment from its three-month basis to the agreed cash basis, or obtain a revised cash-basis quote.
- For each supplier, add freight, insurance, duties, financing, packaging, inspection and handling that are not already included.
- Divide any fixed shipment charge by the actual metric tonnes in that lot; a small minimum order can make the per-tonne logistics cost materially higher.
- Compare the resulting delivered cost only after confirming that both offers meet the same grade, chemistry, form, CoA and delivery requirements.
This process exposes why a lower quoted premium may still produce a higher delivered cost: the offer may exclude freight, use a smaller lot, require faster payment or deliver a different physical form.
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Build an RFQ that produces comparable answers
Send every potential supplier the same data sheet and require responses in the same order. Include the following fields:
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Material: zinc ingot, intended process and annual volume
Grade/standard: exact grade and edition (for example, ASTM B6-23 SHG)
Chemistry: maximum limits for Pb, Fe, Cd, Al, Cu, Sn and other specified elements
Certificate: lot-linked CoA, test methods and traceability details
Physical form: ingot weight, dimensions, bundle/pallet configuration and packaging
Origin: producer, country of origin and shipping point
Price basis: LME cash or three-month, quotation period and currency
Premium: amount or formula, volume breaks and destination assumptions
Delivery: Incoterm, named place, lead time, shipping window and minimum order
Commercial terms: payment schedule, financing charges and quote validity
Quality terms: sampling, acceptance limits and remedy for out-of-specification lots
Material status: primary zinc or secondary/remelted materialTell suppliers which fields are mandatory and which may be proposed as alternatives. A response that leaves the benchmark, quotation period or Incoterm blank is not a comparable quote; return it for clarification instead of filling the gap with an assumption.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common comparison errors and how to correct them
Comparing a premium without its benchmark
A premium is a differential, not the complete metal price. Correct it by recording the LME basis and period next to every premium.
Using a purity headline as the whole specification
“99.995%” does not show lead, cadmium, iron or other limits. Correct it by requiring the complete chemistry table and a lot-specific CoA.
Mixing Incoterms and destinations
An ex-works quote can appear cheaper than a delivered quote because transport, insurance and import costs are excluded. Correct it by converting both to the same named destination and Incoterm or by adding every excluded cost.
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Small lots can carry higher per-tonne freight and handling charges, while oversized bundles may require special equipment. Correct it by comparing net tonnes, bundle configuration and all handling charges.
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Accepting an undated or non-traceable certificate
A certificate that cannot be tied to the shipment does not establish incoming quality. Correct it by requiring the lot or batch number on the CoA and matching it to labels and shipping records.
Assuming all zinc covered by one standard
ASTM B6 excludes sweating or remelting secondary zinc, and continuous-galvanizing grades are addressed separately in ASTM B852. Correct it by naming the correct standard and material origin in the RFQ.
Managing volatile prices after award
Because LME prices, regional premiums, freight and currency move independently, define the adjustment mechanism in the contract. Specify the benchmark source, pricing date or averaging window, currency conversion rule, premium validity, and the event that permits a revision. Keep a record of the benchmark observation used for each invoice so accounts payable can reproduce the calculation.
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What to verify before placing the purchase order
- The grade and standard edition match the process requirement.
- The chemistry limits include lead, iron, cadmium, aluminum, copper, tin and any other controlled elements.
- The CoA is current and tied to the actual lot or batch.
- The material is identified as primary or secondary/remelted, with acceptance confirmed.
- Ingot dimensions, weights, bundle configuration, packaging and labeling are usable at the receiving site.
- The producer, country of origin, warehouse or delivery point and Incoterm are explicit.
- The LME cash or three-month basis, quotation period, currency and premium formula are written into the order.
- Freight, insurance, duties, financing, packaging, inspection and handling costs are allocated and included in the delivered-cost calculation.
- Minimum order, lead time, shipping window and payment terms are acceptable.
- Sampling, acceptance limits and remedies for out-of-specification material are contractual.
How to describe the product accurately
For a specification or catalog line, “99.995% SHG zinc ingot” is a useful concise description when the supplied material and certificate support it. It should be followed by the governing standard, impurity limits, physical dimensions, lot traceability and delivery terms. Do not use the phrase to imply that every SHG listing has identical chemistry, form, origin or logistics.
ASTM B6-23 is a paid standards reference relevant to buyers who need the complete chemistry tables and test requirements. Obtain the applicable edition through an authorized standards channel and quote the requirements in your purchase specification; do not assume that a short commercial description reproduces the full standard.
A practical supplier-selection sequence
- Issue one RFQ with a single technical specification and a fixed response template.
- Reject responses that do not identify grade, standard, benchmark, quotation period, destination or Incoterm.
- Check chemistry and CoA evidence before discussing premium differences.
- Normalize all qualifying offers to delivered currency per metric tonne.
- Review lot size, packaging, lead time, payment and continuity risks.
- Clarify every conditional charge and obtain a final written quotation.
- Place the order with the benchmark formula, quality documents and rejection remedy attached.
- At receipt, match lot numbers, weights, labels and CoA data before releasing material to production.
This sequence keeps a volatile market price from obscuring the decisions that determine whether the zinc will actually work in your process and arrive at the cost your budget assumes.
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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.
