China zinc smelter halts output after pollution -TV
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-12-21 22:06

China is the world's largest producer of zinc, producing 2.4 million tonnes in the first 11 months of 2005. Its exports dropped nearly 40 percent to just over 108,000 tonnes in the first 10 months of 2005 as domestic galvanised steel capacity expanded.

Benchmark zinc futures on the London Metal Exchange have risen 47 percent this year.

Guangdong Television reported late on Tuesday that local environmental officials had ordered the smelter to stop discharging water from Sunday.

"We are working with the environmental officials, but it's hard to say who is responsible. There are a lot of companies near that section of the river," a company official said earlier on Wednesday.

Trading in the company's Shenzhen-listed shares was suspended on Wednesday, pending a company announcement on Thursday. Zhongjin's Shenzhen-listed shares fell 3.4 percent on Tuesday, underperforming the market's 0.4 percent gain.