Zinc Price in 1986
In 1986, the price of zinc averaged $754 per tonne, down 3.7% from the year before. This page covers the 1986 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that zinc would be worth in today's dollars.
1986 Average
$754
LME annual average, USD/tonne
Change vs 1985
-3.7%
from $783 in 1985
What happened to the zinc price in 1986
Zinc averaged $754 per tonne in 1986, down 3.7% from $783 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 1986 average of $754 equals about $2,217 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 1986?
What is a 1986 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.