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Zinc and aluminium prices reached unexpected levels on July 21 with zinc hitting a seven year high. London Metal Exchange zinc futures on the London Metals Exchange (LME) have risen to $1,255.50 a tonne - a price not reached since November 1997. Demand for the metals is driven by China which, as we have reported recently, has indicated above-expectation performance results in manufacturing and construction. AME Mineral Economics has said that world zinc consumption could rise 260,000 tonnes in 2005, resulting in a global deficit of 280,000 tonnes.