Teck has agreed to pay Korea Zinc $165 per metric ton, a three-year low, to turn its zinc concentrate into refined metal.

The firm’s primary listing could come into focus due to a lack of shareholder support for a plan to split off its coal business and list it separately in New York.

Investors are becoming more optimistic about the world’s second-largest economy after the official March manufacturing purchasing figures.

Demand is being driven by strong central bank buying, with developing nations in particular stocking up on bullion as insurance.

Following one of the most challenging periods for miners in Chile in years, the country’s industry is finally picking up.

The Japanese copper smelter said it planned to produce 224,094 tonnes of refined copper in the first half.

The Japanese company plans to produce 104,600 tonnes of refined zinc in the first half.