Primary lead smelters operating rates climbed amid logistics recovery

SHANGHAI, Feb 28 (SMM) – Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces averaged 46.6% in the week ended February 28, up 2.8 percentage points from the prior week, showed an SMM survey.

Logistics in China have recovered to levels of 60-70% as virus curbs eased, which helped normalise raw material supply to primary lead smelters, allowing smelters to restart or step up production.   

The operating rate in Henan rose 2 percentage points to 59.8% this week, and the rate in Hunan climbed 5.9 percentage points to 40.1%.

In Yunnan, the operating rate held stable at 22.5%. Zhenxing will kick off production next week.

In Inner Mongolia, Xing'an Silver & lead suspended its battery breaking line due to battery scrap shortages, which is expected to affect its production of refined lead.