China Lead Consumption Growth to Decrease to 2.1% in 2015

SHANGHAI, Aug. 25 (SMM) – Chinese lead consumption growth may slow to 2.1% and consumption will reach 4.95 million tonnes in 2015, Lou Yonggang foresees.

Domestic lead consumption grows at a slower pace after the peak in 2005. Annual average growth rate in lead consumption is 6.4% during 2010-2015.

“Secondary lead output will contribute more to total lead output in China. Domestic lead production is expected to reach 4.6 million tonnes in 2015, up 3% YoY. Of those, secondary lead will be 1.6 million, accounting for 34.8% of the total”, Lou said, the Deputy Secretary General of Pb&Zn Branch of China Nonferrous Metal Industry Association.

Lead-acid batteries consume 81.7% lead in China, of which 42% lead is used for motive batteries, versus 32% for ignition batteries, 13% for backup batteries and 3% for energy store. The rest 9.5%, 5.4% and 2.6% lead are used for lead semis and alloy, lead oxide and lead salt, respectively.