Operating rates across licensed secondary lead smelters inch up on week

SHANGHAI, Jun 6 (SMM) – Licensed smelters of secondary lead across Anhui, Henan and Jiangsu provinces operated at an average higher rate in the week to Thursday June 6 as a smelter in Henan ramped up to full capacity after recovery. 

SMM data showed that the operating rates across licensed secondary lead smelters of the three areas averaged 52.3% in the week ended June 6, up 0.8 percentage point from the previous week.

The average rate across smelters in Henan grew 8 percentage points on the week, to 75.4% as Henan Jinli hiked to full operation for its two production lines. The smelter is capable of processing some 800 mt of battery scrap per day. 

Operating rates across Jiangsu’s smelters held firm at 50% this week. However, the average rate in Anhui extended its decline and lost 4 percentage points on the week, to 36.7%, as Anhui Huaxin remained under maintenance and suspended purchases of battery scrap this week.