According to SMM, the weekly comprehensive operating rate of lead-acid battery enterprises across five provinces was 66.87% during May 15–21, 2026, up 0.24 percentage points WoW.
Currently, the lead-acid battery market remains in the traditional consumption off-season, with weak demand in markets such as e-bikes and automotive batteries. Dealers were cautious in procurement. Apart from a few enterprises that had more holidays in the first half of the month and recently resumed normal production, the vast majority of enterprises were generally in a state of production cuts or further cut production. Overall, production increases and decreases among lead-acid battery enterprises largely offset each other, and the operating rate fluctuations were relatively small.
![Bears Reduced Positions, Lead Prices Closed Higher on Both Markets Last Friday [SMM Lead Morning Brief]](https://imgqn.smm.cn/usercenter/mfCMp20251217171721.jpeg)
![Lead Ingot Destocking Boosted Lead Prices to Rebound After Probing Lows, While Secondary Lead Enterprises Resuming Production Successively Limited Price Gains [SMM Lead Morning Meeting Minutes]](https://imgqn.smm.cn/usercenter/XMxKT20251217171720.jpeg)
![SHFE Lead Moved Sideways Around Moving Average Intraday, Recording a Three-Day Winning Streak [Lead Futures Brief]](https://imgqn.smm.cn/usercenter/bAjSC20251217171721.jpg)
