According to preliminary data released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan's zinc production in September rose 32% from a month earlier to 43,412 tonnes.

Production was down 8% from the same month of 2008. Shipments from Japanese zinc smelters were flat on month but fell 3% on year to 47,484 tonnes. Zinc inventories fell 15% on month but rose 25% on year to 22,358 tonnes in September. At 0245 GMT, 3 month zinc on the London Metal Exchange was flat from Wednesday's kerb at USD 2,190 per tonne.

(Sourced from Dow Jones)