Scrap Battery Restocking Demand Heats Up, Smelter Purchase Prices Hold Up Well [SMM Scrap Battery Weekly Review]

Published: May 29, 2026 16:35

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SMM May 29 News:

Spot lead prices fluctuated at highs before pulling back this week. Scrap battery purchase prices first rose then stabilized, with only a few smelters slightly lowering their quotes while most enterprises held prices and adopted a wait-and-see approach. Currently in the consumption off-season, scrap battery retirement volumes remained low, smelter raw material inventories declined WoW, and purchase prices overall stayed firm.

Looking ahead to next week, smelters in east China, north China, and south China are showing stronger willingness to resume production, and stockpiling for production resumptions is expected to boost scrap battery recycling demand, tightening regional supply. Scrap battery purchase prices are expected to receive strong support in the short term, and the overall market is expected to hold up well next week.

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