Battery Scrap Recycling Price Remained Low despite Tighter Supply

SHANGHAI, Mar 27 (SMM) - Last week, the SMM domestic average purchase price of battery scrap rose slightly by 20 yuan/mt, and that of starting automotive lead-acid battery scrap with white shell and with black shell remained flat from the previous week. The supply of battery scrap has gradually tightened. Traders said that the purchase prices of smelters showed only a slight rebound last week. This, combined with traders without tax stamps and coupons winning more favour from consumers, resulted in extremely limited profit margins for compliant operators.

Stores were reluctant to sell when the recycling price of battery scrap was low. The difficulty for traders in purchasing cargoes reflected the tightening of battery scrap supply.

As a number of smelters were preparing for maintenance, they stopped purchasing battery scrap while destocking their inventory, resulting in a decline in the inventory of raw materials. While the demand from some smelters weakened due to maintenance and modification, other smelters slightly lowered their purchase prices. The price cuts were larger in areas with weak battery scrap disposal capabilities.