Hindustan Zinc Highlights ₹8.3 Lakh Crore Annual Corrosion Cost to Indian Economy

Hindustan Zinc Limited launched a public awareness campaign this week highlighting that corrosion costs India approximately 5% of its GDP annually, amounting to over $100 billion in preventable losses. The campaign, named #ZungKeKhilaafZinc, aims to promote zinc galvanization as a solution for protecting metal structures and vehicles.

From April 21-24, the company conducted public demonstrations in Udaipur comparing galvanized and non-galvanized two-wheelers. The non-galvanized vehicle showed visible rust damage while the zinc-coated one remained intact, illustrating the protective benefits of galvanization to onlookers.

"Corrosion poses a serious threat to our infrastructure and the nation's economy at large," said Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc Limited. "While it's essential for manufacturers to adopt galvanization, consumers also play a vital role by asking the right questions - especially when it comes to long-term investments like homes and vehicles."

The campaign coincides with World Corrosion Awareness Day on April 24, an initiative by the World Corrosion Organization to highlight economic losses from rust. Globally, corrosion causes economic losses exceeding $2.5 trillion annually, representing 3-4% of industrial nations' GDP.

India faces elevated corrosion risk due to its 7,800 km coastline and high-humidity regions. Studies suggest that up to 30% of corrosion-related damage could be prevented with proper protection strategies. Countries like Japan and Australia have reduced corrosion-related GDP losses to approximately 1.5% through widespread use of zinc-coated steel.

In the automotive sector, over 70% of a vehicle's body consists of steel components vulnerable to corrosion. Indian manufacturers have increasingly adopted zinc coatings for vehicle structures to enhance durability, safety, and resale value. According to Hindustan Zinc, galvanization costs less than 0.1% of a vehicle's price and provides returns within a year through reduced maintenance requirements.

Hindustan Zinc Limited, a Vedanta Group company, is the world's largest integrated zinc producer and holds approximately 75% market share of India's primary zinc market. The company supplies to more than 40 countries and recently launched EcoZen, which it describes as Asia's first low-carbon "green" zinc brand produced using renewable energy.

The company states that its EcoZen product has a carbon footprint of less than one tonne of carbon equivalent per tonne of zinc produced, approximately 75% lower than the global average. Hindustan Zinc has been recognized for sustainability practices and aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner.