Available zinc inventories in registered warehouses of the London Metal Exchange (LME) more than halved this week, but supplies could be replenished from China, where stocks have been rising, analysts said. LME zinc inventories have been eroding this year, evidence of supply problems in Europe and the United States as smelters reduce output, a contrast to the more plentiful picture in China. The situation became more serious this week after owners of 35,000 tonnes of zinc inventories in LME warehouses gave notice they want to withdraw the material, slashing available stocks by 56 per cent to 26,325 tonnes. "This ... (full story)