Tight supply-demand balance to keep lead concentrate TCs unchanged in Apr

SHANGHAI, Mar 26 (SMM) – A tight supply and demand balance is expected to keep treat charges for domestic and imported lead concentrate across Chinese markets barely changed from a month ago in April.

As of Monday March 25, TCs for domestic materials (Pb 50%) stood at 1,750-1,950 yuan/mt in Pb content, with TCs for imported materials (Pb 60%) at $20-35/dmt, SMM assessments showed.

With smelters recovering from maintenance, demand for lead concentrate rebounded to January’s levels in March. Operations across lead smelters are expected to hold steady in April.

Some miners in Inner Mongolia remained closed for safety checks after the accident at Yinman Mining site at the end of February. This will keep lead concentrate supplies from fully recovering and continue to tighten the balance of supply and demand.