Secondary lead smelters slowed operation as battery makers finished purchases

SHANGHAI, Jan 17 (SMM) – Operating rates across licensed smelters of secondary lead in Jiangsu, Anhui and Henan provinces averaged 44.8% in the week ended January 17, down 1.9 percentage points from the previous week, showed a SMM survey. Downstream lead-acid battery producers concluded their pre-holiday restocking this week. 

Anyang Jinpeng and Xinxiang Huarui smelters in Henan suspended operations and were away from the market for Chinese New Year holidays, lowering the average operating rate in Henan by 7.4 percentage points to 57.5%. 

The rates in Jiangsu and Anhui remained unchanged from a week ago, standing at 56% and 32%, respectively.