The Australia-based, one of the world's leading integrated lead/zinc producers Zinifex Ltd was forced to shut down part of its Century zinc mine in the state of Queensland due to mechanical failure last Saturday. The shortly shut down is expected to be cut the financial output of 83, 000 tons of zinc concentrate and 700 tons of lead in concentrate. The total loss will be around US$23.5 million. After the Philippines Rapu Rapu hit by typhoon with a 6 weeks shut down, this has been the 2nd times related to zinc supply within 1 month. The price of zinc is expected to stay strong for a while for all these destructive events.(Dec. 12)