Zinc Miner Nexa Falls 2.69% as Buenaventura Edges Up | Zinc, Oct 20
Key Facts
- Nexa Resources fell 2.69% to US$12.31 on Tuesday 20 October, the clearest listed Latin American zinc name.
- Buenaventura rose 0.33% to US$30.24, helped by its gold and silver exposure.
- The US dollar index fell about 0.3% to 101.7, a mild tailwind for dollar-priced metals.
- Peru and Mexico are major zinc producers, so the metal matters for their mining exports.
- No verified zinc price was available for Tuesday, so the wrap uses listed proxies.
Today’s Focus
Zinc miners split on Tuesday. Nexa Resources, which mines and smelts zinc in Brazil and Peru, fell 2.69% to US$12.31.
Buenaventura, a Peruvian miner of gold, silver and base metals, rose 0.33% to US$30.24.
We could not confirm a zinc price, so shares serve as proxies. For US investors, zinc matters mainly as the coating that protects steel from rust.
What matters today. The zinc-focused miner fell and the precious-metals miner edged up, with no confirmed metal price.
01 The session in one read
Nexa closed at US$12.31, down 2.69%. Buenaventura closed at US$30.24, up 0.33%, according to RT.
These are share prices, not zinc prices. We could not confirm a zinc settlement for the session.
The dollar index fell about 0.3%, which did not help Nexa.
Nexa’s fall of 2.69% is larger than the sector’s move in the sources we could confirm, so it may be company-specific. The cause is not confirmed. What is not known is the zinc price move.
02 The board
The board shows the two most relevant Latin American listed names. They are proxies, not zinc prices.
| Asset | Level | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nexa Resources | US$12.31 | -2.69% |
| Buenaventura | US$30.24 | +0.33% |
| US dollar index (DXY) | 101.7 | -0.3% |
Source: RT close, 2026-10-20. Where a commodity has no spot feed, an exchange-traded tracker or leading producer is shown as a labelled proxy.
Live Market IntelligenceThe live market board
Rio Times · Live Market Intelligence
Latin America — Cross-Market Board
| Instrument | Last | Change | YoY | Prev. | High | Low | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBOV | 208,295.98 | +1.57% | +21.85% | 205,079.25 | 168,310 | 167,142 | — |
| IPSA | 10,926.50 | -0.42% | — | 10,972.40 | 11,210 | 10,984 | 1,513,213,483 |
| IPC MEX | 69,258.58 | +0.36% | +12.17% | 69,010.67 | 66,121 | 65,405 | 108,886,187 |
| MERVAL | 3,017,221 | — | +30.51% | 3,022,485 | 3,042,365 | 2,991,150 | — |
| COLCAP | 2,533.22 | +0.47% | — | 9.04 | 9.05 | 9.02 | 4,133 |
| BVL PERÚ | 59,903.86 | -0.06% | — | — | — | — | — |
| USD/BRL | 5.16 | +0.01% | -5.13% | 5.16 | 5.18 | 5.14 | — |
| EUR/BRL | 5.95 | +1.01% | -5.83% | 5.89 | 5.98 | 5.94 | — |
| USD/MXN | 17.06 | -0.24% | -8.58% | 17.10 | 17.08 | 17.01 | — |
| USD/CLP | 913.98 | +0.04% | -5.67% | 913.65 | 915.11 | 906.68 | — |
| USD/COP | 3,140 | +0.03% | -22.04% | 3,139 | 3,141 | 3,105 | — |
| USD/PEN | 3.36 | -0.66% | -4.82% | 3.38 | 3.38 | 3.35 | — |
| USD/ARS | 1,493 | +0.10% | +12.96% | 1,491 | 1,494 | 1,480 | — |
| USD/UYU | 40.27 | +1.24% | +1.80% | 39.77 | 40.27 | 40.23 | — |
| USD/PYG | 5,939 | +1.68% | -19.54% | 5,841 | 5,939 | 5,925 | — |
| USD/BOB | 11.64 | -0.76% | +72.04% | 11.73 | 11.72 | 11.64 | — |
| USD/DOP | 58.34 | +1.25% | -3.44% | 57.62 | 58.34 | 58.04 | — |
| USD/CRC | 445.92 | +0.89% | -9.71% | 441.97 | 448.50 | 445.92 | — |
03 What moved it
The sources available do not explain Nexa’s fall. Buenaventura’s small gain fits its mix of gold and silver, which were mixed on the day.
China’s central bank left its loan prime rates unchanged on Tuesday, at 3.0% for one year and 3.5% for five years, in line with forecasts, according to the RT calendar. China’s foreign direct investment (FDI) figure was listed with a forecast of −4.8 and a previous reading of −5.3, but no published actual was available to us.
Zinc is mostly used to galvanise steel, so construction and manufacturing demand set its direction over time.
04 The Latin American read
Peru and Mexico are among the world’s larger zinc producers, and Bolivia also mines the metal. Zinc exports support mining income in all three.
Nexa operates zinc mines and smelters in Brazil and Peru, which ties its shares closely to the metal’s margins.
05 The names to watch
Nexa is the cleanest Latin American zinc exposure for foreign investors. Buenaventura offers zinc alongside gold and silver, so it can rise on days when zinc is soft.
A US investor should read the two moves as different bets rather than one signal.
06 The outlook
Zinc needs a verified price and a clear demand reading from China’s construction sector to set direction.
Until then, share moves in Nexa and Buenaventura are the available gauge.
07 What to watch
- A zinc price quote: A verified benchmark would show whether Nexa’s drop was about the metal.
- Chinese construction demand: It sets the pace for galvanised steel.
- Nexa: Whether the 2.69% fall is repeated.
- The dollar index: It stood at 101.7.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Nexa Resources fall on Tuesday?
Nexa fell 2.69% to US$12.31. We could not confirm the cause from the sources available.
What is zinc used for?
It is mostly used to galvanise steel, coating it against rust.
Which Latin American countries produce zinc?
Peru, Mexico and Bolivia are among the producers, and Nexa mines and smelts zinc in Brazil and Peru.
Did Buenaventura rise?
Yes, it rose 0.33% to US$30.24.
Market data: RT.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
LatAm Markets: Live Signals → — real-time movers, turnover leaders and FX across Latin America.