Primary lead smelters operating rates rose slightly on stable production

SHANGHAI, Mar 12(SMM) — Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces rose slightly from the previous week to 59.3% in the week ended March 12, showed an SMM survey.

Smelters in Henan kept stable production. Henan Shibin stepped up production slightly, while Wanyang started to overhaul its crude lead line from March 5, which is expected to complete till mid-April.

The average operating rate in Hunan was unchanged on the week. Chenzhou Xiongfeng remained suspended.

Yunnan Hongqian Nonferrous Metals ramped up production on ample raw materials inventories, and Gejiu Chuangyuan was still in suspension and will resume production in mid-March.

Note: The average operating rate in Hunan in the week ended March 5 was revised after daily output of Hunan Huaxin was corrected.