SHANGHAI, Dec 19 (SMM) – Treatment charges (TCs) climbed in 2018 as lowered demand gave smelters an upper hand over miners in the negotiations.
SMM assessments showed that TCs for domestic lead concentrate (Pb 50%) averaged 1,800 mt in Pb content as of December 1, up 44% from 1,250 yuan/mt recorded on January 1, 2018.
Many smelters undertook maintenance when domestic miners operated in high gear. This, combined with periodic environmental restrictions, lowered demand for lead concentrate and shored up the bargaining power of smelters.
Domestic miners also faced competition from seaborne materials as an import arbitrage window opened . This prompted them to raise TCs to attract more buyers.
An increase in using lead-containing waste materials at smelters also dented demand for lead concentrate.

![Con la llegada del Festival del Medio Otoño y el Día Nacional, ¿cuáles son los planes de vacaciones de las empresas de baterías de plomo-ácido en 2026? [Análisis de SMM]](https://imgqn.smm.cn/usercenter/mfCMp20251217171721.jpeg)
![¿Cómo serán los calendarios de vacaciones y el ritmo de compra/venta de los recicladores de baterías de desecho durante el doble feriado del Festival del Medio Otoño y el Día Nacional de 2026? [Análisis de SMM]](https://imgqn.smm.cn/usercenter/guTSZ20251217171722.jpg)
