Zinc Is Now a Critical Mineral — And Why Galvanizing Matters More Than Ever

Zinc Is Now a Critical Mineral — And Why Galvanizing Matters More Than Ever

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Across the world, governments are rethinking how they build, protect, and sustain infrastructure. One of the most significant shifts — though still not widely understood outside technical circles,  is the growing recognition of zinc as a critical mineral.

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Canada, the United States, the European Union, and other global regions now classify zinc as strategically essential for clean energy, resilient infrastructure, and long-term national competitiveness. As the demand for durable, low-carbon assets increases, galvanizing emerges as one of the most impactful ways zinc delivers value to society.

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Below, we explore what this means for Canada’s infrastructure and why the galvanizing sector stands at the centre of this transformation.

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1. Why Zinc Made the “Critical Mineral” List

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Zinc is indispensable in three fast-growing sectors:

• Infrastructure durability (hot-dip galvanizing uses more zinc than any other application)
• Clean energy technologies (renewables, batteries, and transmission systems)
• Low-carbon industrial strategies requiring longer service life and reduced maintenance emissions

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Governments classify a mineral as critical when

1. It is essential to economic or national security
2. Supply chains are vulnerable
3. Demand is rapidly rising across strategic industries

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Zinc meets all three. The world cannot transition to cleaner, more resilient infrastructure without it.

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2. The Link Between Zinc and Sustainable Infrastructure

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Most people associate zinc with batteries or specialized alloys — but far more zinc is used for corrosion protection of steel.

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Hot-dip galvanizing:

• Extends service life of steel by 70–100+ years
• Eliminates repeated maintenance cycles
• Reduces lifecycle emissions dramatically
• Supports local fabrication and domestic supply chains
• Protects Canada’s infrastructure from harsh climates and de-icing salts

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As infrastructure owners shift from first cost thinking to whole-life carbon, galvanizing becomes a cornerstone technology.

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Zinc is not simply a coating — it is a strategic asset for national durability.

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3. Why This Matters for Canada’s Policy Landscape

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Canada is now moving toward:

• Buy Clean–style procurement
• Supply-chain protection for Canadian steel and manufacturing
• Lifecycle-based design, including PAS 2080 principles
• Longer design service life for bridges and public infrastructure

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Zinc’s new status strengthens the case for:

• Specifying galvanizing early in design
• Ensuring access to domestic zinc supply
• Supporting Canadian galvanizers and fabricators as part of a national resilience strategy

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Every bridge, sign structure, guardrail, transit asset, or public building protected by galvanizing relies directly on this critical mineral.

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4. Global Demand Is Rising Faster Than Supply

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International forecasts show:

• Zinc demand for infrastructure will double by 2050
• Zinc demand for clean energy technologies will triple
• The world will require more zinc than currently produced unless recycling rates increase and mining expands sustainably

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For Canada, where galvanizing already plays a central role in infrastructure, this reinforces the need for:

• Stable local supply
• Long-term planning
• Modernized standards that recognize zinc’s durability advantage

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Canada’s galvanizing industry sits at the intersection of critical minerals, clean tech, and infrastructure transformation.

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5. What This Means for Engineers, Designers & Policymakers

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Zinc’s critical mineral designation is not an abstract policy shift — it has practical implications:

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For engineers & designers

• Galvanizing should be considered a default corrosion protection strategy for long-life structures
• LCA tools now recognize the carbon advantage of durable coatings
• Duplex systems offer even longer performance for complex or coastal environments

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For governments & ministries

• Zinc underpins the durability economy — fewer failures, fewer closures, fewer rebuilds
• Policies that protect Canadian fabrication and galvanizing are also protecting critical mineral value chains

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For owners & municipalities

• Every galvanized structure is a long-term investment with dramatically lower maintenance budgets
• Zinc helps municipalities meet climate pledges through reduced lifecycle emissions

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6. The Bottom Line: Galvanizing Is Becoming Even More Strategic

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As the world races to build cleaner, more resilient infrastructure, zinc is no longer just a commodity — it is a pillar of national strategy.

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And because galvanizing is the single largest use of zinc globally, the galvanizing community plays a key role in:

• Extending infrastructure life
• Reducing carbon emissions
• Strengthening domestic supply chains
• Supporting economic resilience

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For Canada, this is an opportunity to lead:

a modern infrastructure strategy must include modern galvanizing strategy.

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