Sluggish Lead-Acid Battery Demand Hits Lead Ingot, Alloy Sales; Smelters Cut Production Amid Import Concerns

Hunan Province has launched the second round of its provincial ecological and environmental protection inspection "look-back" campaign. The first batch of seven inspection teams has been fully deployed since June 13, 2026, covering the cities of Changsha, Zhuzhou, Yueyang, Shaoyang, Hengyang, Huaihua, and Zhangjiajie. According to market sources, some lead-zinc mines have suspended production as a result of the inspections. SMM will continue to monitor and assess the potential impact on zinc concentrate supply.

The ban took effect on June 27, with an exception for exports to Russia, dealing another heavy blow to global sulfur supply: According to Order No. 1363 signed by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy on June 26, Kazakhstan fully suspended sulfur exports starting June 27, 2026, and the ban will remain in effect "until further notice." Notably, sulfur shipments destined for railway stations within the Russian Federation are exempted. The ban covers all categories, with logistics operators responsible for enforcement: This ban includes all mainstream industrial sulfur categories such as liquid sulfur, granular sulfur, and lump sulfur. The responsibility for supervision and enforcement has been explicitly assigned to relevant railway structures and logistics operators, including Dar Rail LLC and TTT Service LLC. Russia and Kazakhstan Take Successive Actions, Global Supply Sees Precipitous Contraction: Just one day before Kazakhstan's ban—on June 25, the Russian government signed Decree No. 785, extending the ban on industrial sulfur exports, originally set to expire on June 30, to December 31, 2026. The Russian ban also covers liquid, granular, and lump sulfur, with officials stating the move aims to prioritize domestic fertilizer production and strengthen national food security.