SMM April 17 News:
From April 10 to April 16, 2026, SMM statistics showed that the weekly operating rate of secondary lead across four provinces in China was 41.94%, down 2.87 percentage points WoW. In Anhui, the operating rate dropped 7.67 percentage points due to enterprise equipment failures and raw material shortages. In Henan, some enterprises cut production due to insufficient raw materials. In Jiangsu and Inner Mongolia, as lead prices fluctuated in the first half of the week and recyclers' shipments improved, raw material restocking led to a slight production increase. Next week, the probability of recyclers holding back from selling is expected to rise, and expectations for production cuts at smelters are expected to strengthen, with the operating rate projected to decline by another 0.6 percentage points.
![Cost Support Holds Prices Firm, Import Lead Inflow Expected to Shrink [SMM Secondary Crude Lead Weekly Review]](https://imgqn.smm.cn/usercenter/mIbTL20251217171721.jpg)
![Operating Rate Declined and Spot Orders Shrank, Secondary Lead Inventory Expected to Turn Lower Next Week [SMM Secondary Lead Inventory Weekly Review]](https://imgqn.smm.cn/usercenter/lIHfM20251217171721.jpeg)
![SMM Weekly Operating Rate of Primary Lead Smelters (April 10, 2026 – April 16, 2026) [SMM Weekly Review on Primary Lead Smelting Operations]](https://imgqn.smm.cn/usercenter/bAjSC20251217171721.jpg)
