Zinc Price in 1982
In 1982, the price of zinc averaged $745 per tonne, down 11.9% from the year before. This page covers the 1982 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that zinc would be worth in today's dollars.
1982 Average
$745
LME annual average, USD/tonne
Change vs 1981
-11.9%
from $846 in 1981
What happened to the zinc price in 1982
Zinc averaged $745 per tonne in 1982, down 11.9% from $846 the year before.
Zinc traded in a broad range through the 1980s, ending the decade with a rally to around $1,660 as the modern LME special-high-grade contract took hold.
Adjusted for inflation, zinc's 1982 average of $745 equals about $2,488 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 1982?
What is a 1982 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.