The weekly operating rate of lead-acid battery companies turned downward due to the traditional off-season and tariff impacts. [SMM Weekly Lead-Acid Battery Operating Rate Review]

        It is reported that the weekly comprehensive operating rate of lead-acid battery enterprises in five provinces monitored by SMM was 72.5% from April 12 to April 18, 2025, down 0.74 percentage points WoW.

         The e-bike and automotive battery replacement markets are in the traditional off-season, coupled with the weakening lead prices, dealers are cautious in procurement, and some enterprises have seen an accumulation of finished product inventories. To reduce inventory pressure, lead-acid battery enterprises in Jiangxi, Guangdong, Zhejiang, and other regions have implemented production cuts or taken holidays this week, with holidays ranging from 1-2 days to 4-5 days, leading to a decline in the weekly operating rate of lead-acid battery enterprises. In addition, the recent tariff hike by the US on China has reached as high as 245% as of this week, putting enormous pressure on export-oriented lead-acid battery enterprises. Under the impact of tariffs, new orders for such enterprises have decreased, which may drag down the production of lead-acid battery enterprises from May to June (export-oriented enterprises generally take orders 1-3 months in advance).