Primary lead smelters operating rates fell to 57.6% this week

SHANGHAI, Jan 8 (SMM) — Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces lost 1.6 percentage points from the previous week to 57.6% in the week ended January 8, showed an SMM survey.

The average operating rate edged up 0.2 percentage point to 70.9% in Henan as Henan Minshan returned to normal production and Shibin underwent maintenance this week.

The average operating rate added 0.4 percentage point to 51.1% in Hunan as Shuikoushan and Jinxin returned to normal production while Xiongfeng started maintenance.

The average operating rate dropped 8.5 percentage points to 35.2% in Yunnan, as Mengzi commenced maintenance this week while other smelters kept stable production. (The average operating rate in Yunnan for last week was revised as Zhenxing resumed production)