The problem of the supply of zine, at present the scareest base metal in the United States, is causing some misgivings here. The British Empire is more than self-sufficient in zinc-ore supply, Canada, Burma, Australia and Newfoundland being able to produce annually 600.000 tons of zinc metal content in the ore. The empire's annual requirements probably are around 400,000 tons. There is, however, a certain shortage of refining capacity, as normally parts of the empire's concentrates are refined in the Continent of Europe, especially in Belgium, which is the largest zinc-smelting country outside of the United States.
The occupation of Belgium ge in the World Wai is affecting British supplies, though not so much as from 1914 through 1918. The loss of Contin Wo send increasing supplies of zinc concentrates to the United States for treatment and subsequent re-export to Britain. Mexico and Peru similarly are affected by the loss of the Belgian si ving a larger cre basi ie: refineries.
The bloc! land also affects copper and lead pros outside of Europe. Before the Germany and Belgium refined lerable parts of Rhodesian and Congo copper and Australian, Burmese, Mexican and Peruvian lead supplies. As metals from these sources now seek treatment facilities in the United States, refineries in that country should be busier than ever in the new year.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.