Zinc Price in 1998

In 1998, the price of zinc averaged $1,024 per tonne, down 22.2% from the year before. This page covers the 1998 average, the events that moved the market, and what that zinc would be worth in today's dollars.

1998 Average

$1,024

LME annual average, USD/tonne

Change vs 1997

-22.2%

from $1,316 in 1997

Zinc Price Chart, 1988 to 2008

Annual average zinc price per tonne, 1988 to 2008, with 1998 marked.

What happened to the zinc price in 1998

Zinc averaged $1,024 per tonne in 1998, sliding 22.2% from the $1,316 average of 1997. The notable development of 1998: Asian financial crisis pressure.

The 1990s were choppy and ultimately soft, with the 1997-98 Asian crisis and persistent oversupply leaving zinc near $1,000 by decade's end.

Adjusted for inflation, zinc's 1998 average of $1,024 equals about $2,025 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 1998?

Zinc averaged $1,024 per tonne in 1998, based on World Bank and LME annual average data. That average was down 22.2% from $1,316 in 1997.

What is a 1998 zinc price worth in today's dollars?

Adjusted with the US Consumer Price Index, zinc's 1998 average of $1,024 works out to roughly $2,025 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 1998?

The defining story of 1998: Asian financial crisis pressure. Against that backdrop, the annual average fell 22.2%, from $1,316 in 1997 to $1,024.

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.