Exclusive: China’s primary lead output fell amid concentrated maintenance

SHANGHAI, Aug 7 (SMM) — China’s primary lead output ended its four-month increases and fell by more than 10,000 mt in July as primary lead smelters, including Yunnan Chihong, Jiangxi Copper, Hunan Shuikoushan and Jingui, undertook routine maintenance. Besides, equipment breakdown across some smelters in Henan, Jiangxi and Yunnan further weighed on July output.

SMM data showed that China produced 259,000 mt of primary lead in July, down 3.82% from June, but up 17.3% from a year ago. For January-July, output increased 3.31% from the same period last year.

SMM expects China’s primary lead output to expand to 273,000 mt in August. Lead prices rose in August, with the most-traded SHFE 2009 lead contract touching 15,850 yuan/mt. Improved profits encouraged smelters to produce. Henan Yuguang completed upgrading of production lines, and Yunnan Chihong and Hunan Shuikoushan recovered from maintenance.