India: Hindustan Zinc reports best ever mined metal output in 9MFY'26

• Company achieves best ever Q3 mined metal production
  
  
• Refined zinc production rises 8% y-o-y to 221,000 t in Q3
  
  

Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL), the world's largest integrated zinc producer, announced a strong operational performance for the third quarter and nine months of FY26, reporting its highest-ever third-quarter and nine-month mined metal production.

In Q3FY26, HZL achieved its best-ever third-quarter mined metal production at 276,000 t, up 4% y-o-y, driven primarily by higher ore production. Saleable metal output increased 4% y-o-y to 270,000 t, supported by the commissioning of debottlenecking projects at Chanderiya and Dariba, the ramp-up of the 160,000 t/year roaster at Debari, and improved plant availability.

Refined zinc production rose 8% y-o-y to 221,000 t. However, refined lead production declined 11% y-o-y to 49,000 t, mainly due to 'pyro operations on lead-only mode' in the previous period. Saleable silver production stood at 158 t, marginally lower by 1% y-o-y, while wind power generation increased 5% y-o-y to 50 million units (MU).

For the nine months ended 31 December (9MFY26), mined metal production reached a record 799,000 t, up 2% y-o-y, supported by higher ore production, improved grades, and better recoveries. Refined zinc output increased 2% y-o-y to 624,000 t, largely in line with plant availability. Refined lead production declined 16% y-o-y to 142,000 t due to lower pyro plant availability, while saleable silver production fell 12% y-o-y to 451 t, reflecting lower silver input from mines in accordance with the mining sequence.

Wind power generation during 9MFY26 rose 11% y-o-y to 316 MU. HZL noted that FY26 marks its highest mined metal production since the transition to underground mining.