Zinc Price in 1985
In 1985, the price of zinc averaged $783 per tonne, down 15.1% from the year before. This page covers the 1985 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that zinc would be worth in today's dollars.
1985 Average
$783
LME annual average, USD/tonne
Change vs 1984
-15.1%
from $922 in 1984
What happened to the zinc price in 1985
Zinc averaged $783 per tonne in 1985, sliding 15.1% from the $922 average of 1984.
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 1985 average of $783 equals about $2,345 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 1985?
What is a 1985 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.