SHANGHAI Dec. 7 (CBI China)--Last week treatment charges (TCs) for lead concentrate imports increased significantly. TCs rose from USD 250/mt to USD 350 – 380/mt for lead concentrate containing 50 – 60% of lead.  However, transactions remained slow as:

    1) Rumors of a further increase in export taxes made smelters take a wait-and-see attitude;

    2) Smelters were cautious sign deals in light of unsteady lead prices.

    For many of the same reasons, negotiations over 2008 TC/RC contracts made no progress.