Zinc Price in 1972
In 1972, the price of zinc averaged $378 per tonne, up 22.3% from the year before. This page covers the 1972 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that zinc would be worth in today's dollars.
1972 Average
$378
LME annual average, USD/tonne
Change vs 1971
+22.3%
from $309 in 1971
What happened to the zinc price in 1972
Zinc averaged $378 per tonne in 1972, climbing 22.3% from the $309 average of 1971.
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 1972 average of $378 equals about $2,915 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 1972?
What is a 1972 zinc price worth in today's dollars?
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.