Weakening consumption lowers operating rates at lead-acid battery producers

SHANGHAI, Dec 10 (SMM) – Operating rates at lead-acid battery producers across Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei and Hebei averaged 67.19% in the week through December 7, down 0.29 percentage point from the previous week, SMM data showed.

As consumption across automotive battery markets weakened, new orders from distributors shrank and drove some battery producers in Hubei to lower operating rates after they fulfilled backlogged orders. The average rate across plants in Hubei fell by 1.89 percentage points last week.

Low stocks of finished products prompted battery producers in other regions to hold operating rates stable last week.