Off-Season vs. Raw Material Price Increases: Lead-Acid Battery Enterprises Cautious in Procurement [SMM Lead-Acid Battery Market Weekly Review]

       This week, the e-bike and automotive battery replacement market was in a traditional off-season state. Dealers only purchased as needed, and some enterprises reported weakening orders and reduced production. In terms of battery selling prices, there were no sales promotions as typically seen during the off-season in previous years, mainly due to rising raw material costs. Apart from rising lead prices, prices of other auxiliary materials also trended upward. In particular, sulphuric acid prices surged significantly since late March, with smelting-grade sulphuric acid prices rising by over 50%, and quotes in some regions approaching 2,000 yuan/mt. In addition, lead prices fell first and then rose this week. At the beginning of the week, downstream enterprises purchased as needed on dips, and market transactions were moderate. In the second half of the week, lead prices rose, and most downstream enterprises adopted a wait-and-see approach with cautious purchasing, with spot market transactions remaining sluggish.