Zinc and Tin Supply Pressures Put Historic Mining Districts Back in Focus
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- U.S. Metal News News Commentary - Global demand for refined zinc is expected to exceed supply in 2026, with the deficit forecast at 88,000 tonnes, according to the International Lead and Zinc Study Group, which also forecasts world zinc mine production to decline by 2.6% this year to 12.40 million tonnes. Tin faces a longer squeeze: the International Tin Association forecasts that global tin demand will increase by 22% between 2026 and 2035, while refined tin supply is projected to grow by just 16%. Zinc, tin and lead are all on the U.S. government’s final 2025 List of Critical Minerals, and explorers are returning to historic