Zinc Price in 1970

In 1970, the price of zinc averaged $296 per tonne at the start of the modern series. This page covers the 1970 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that zinc would be worth in today's dollars.

1970 Average

$296

LME annual average, USD/tonne

What happened to the zinc price in 1970

Zinc averaged $296 per tonne in 1970, according to World Bank and LME annual average data. Zinc averaged about $296 per tonne in 1970, at the start of the series and before the 1973-74 commodity boom that would quadruple the price. The notable development of 1970: Pre-modern-contract era; LME zinc quotation basis.

Zinc more than tripled during the 1973-74 commodity and inflation boom, spiking toward $1,240 per tonne before the mid-decade recession pulled it back below $600.

Adjusted for inflation, zinc's 1970 average of $296 equals about $2,459 in today's dollars. The conversion uses US Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U annual averages, so treat it as a close approximation rather than an exact figure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the price of zinc in 1970?

Zinc averaged $296 per tonne in 1970, based on World Bank and LME annual average data.

What is a 1970 zinc price worth in today's dollars?

Adjusted with the US Consumer Price Index, zinc's 1970 average of $296 works out to roughly $2,459 in today's dollars, using 2025 as the CPI base year. The conversion uses BLS CPI-U annual averages, so treat it as a close approximation rather than an exact figure.

What moved the zinc price in 1970?

The defining story of 1970: Pre-modern-contract era; LME zinc quotation basis. Zinc averaged about $296 per tonne in 1970, at the start of the series and before the 1973-74 commodity boom that would quadruple the price.

Annual averages are World Bank and LME zinc prices per tonne in US dollars (LME cash and settlement basis). The 2025 figure is preliminary. Where daily data exists, the per-year high, low, and close come from MetalCharts historical data. Inflation adjustments use BLS CPI-U annual averages.