Secondary Lead Prices More Resilient than Lead Prices

SHANGHAI, Mar 14 (SMM) - Lead prices went down last week, while secondary lead prices were relatively resilient. The average price of SMM secondary crude lead across the country was flat from a week ago last Friday. Smelters sold secondary crude lead mainly under long-term orders, while transactions in the spot market showed regional differences. In Inner Mongolia, tight raw material supply and equipment issues affected local secondary crude lead production, encouraging sellers to hold their offers firm between 13,900-14,000 yuan/mt (ex-factory, excluding tax). Quotations to buyers in Hebei were 14,080- 14,200 yuan/mt (including freight rates of 180-200 yuan/mt), while transaction prices were around 14,100 yuan/mt. Quotations to buyers in Henan were 14,180-14,300 yuan/mt (including freight rates of 280-300 yuan/mt), with scarce transactions. The supply of secondary crude lead in south China was even tighter than that in northern market.