Zinc Price in 1973

In 1973, the price of zinc averaged $845 per tonne, up 123.5% from the year before. This page covers the 1973 average, the events that moved the market, and what that zinc would be worth in today's dollars.

1973 Average

$845

LME annual average, USD/tonne

Change vs 1972

+123.5%

from $378 in 1972

Zinc Price Chart, 1970 to 1990

Annual average zinc price per tonne, 1970 to 1990, with 1973 marked.

What happened to the zinc price in 1973

Zinc averaged $845 per tonne in 1973, surging 123.5% from the $378 average of 1972. Annual moves of that size are rare and put 1973 among the most explosive years in the metal's modern history. The defining story of 1973: Sharp rise into the 1970s commodity boom.

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 1973 average of $845 equals about $6,134 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 1973?

Zinc averaged $845 per tonne in 1973, based on World Bank and LME annual average data. That average was up 123.5% from $378 in 1972.

What is a 1973 zinc price worth in today's dollars?

Adjusted with the US Consumer Price Index, zinc's 1973 average of $845 works out to roughly $6,134 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 1973?

The defining story of 1973: Sharp rise into the 1970s commodity boom. Against that backdrop, the annual average climbed 123.5%, from $378 in 1972 to $845.

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.