Zinc Price in 1975

In 1975, the price of zinc averaged $745 per tonne, down 39.9% from the year before. This page covers the 1975 average, the events that moved the market, and what that zinc would be worth in today's dollars.

1975 Average

$745

LME annual average, USD/tonne

Change vs 1974

-39.9%

from $1,240 in 1974

Zinc Price Chart, 1970 to 1990

Annual average zinc price per tonne, 1970 to 1990, with 1975 marked.

What happened to the zinc price in 1975

Zinc averaged $745 per tonne in 1975, collapsing 39.9% from the $1,240 average of 1974. The defining story of 1975: Post-boom collapse and recession.

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 1975 average of $745 equals about $4,463 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 1975?

Zinc averaged $745 per tonne in 1975, based on World Bank and LME annual average data. That average was down 39.9% from $1,240 in 1974.

What is a 1975 zinc price worth in today's dollars?

Adjusted with the US Consumer Price Index, zinc's 1975 average of $745 works out to roughly $4,463 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 1975?

The defining story of 1975: Post-boom collapse and recession. Against that backdrop, the annual average fell 39.9%, from $1,240 in 1974 to $745.

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.