Operating rates at lead-acid battery makers rose slightly on week

SHANGHAI, Sep 25 (SMM) – Operating rates across lead-acid battery producers in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei and Hebei provinces averaged 72.72% in the week ended September 25, up 0.21 percentage point from the previous week, as e-bike battery makers in Jiangsu gradually returned to normal production after technical upgrading, an SMM survey showed.

End-user consumption of lead-acid batteries was stable this week, and some battery makers conducted promotions to encourage distributors to stockpile. Distributors restocked on demand, and battery makers produced based on sales.  

As it is approaching the National Day/Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, most of the battery makers have already completed stockpiling of raw materials this week. A few large-scale battery makers will operate as usual during the holidays, while others plan to take a break for 1-3 days, basically the same as previous years.