SHANGHAI, Jan. 29 (SMM) –

Ignition Batteries Largest Driver of Lead Consumption in 2012
According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), even though China’s automobile and motorcycle output both slowed last year, the ignition battery segment remained the most important driver of lead ingot demand.

China Refined Lead Exports Down 64.03% in 2012
According to China Customs, China’s refined lead exports during December were 445, almost doubling November’s 209 mt. SMM attributes this growth to the oversupply of domestic refined lead and shortages of lead overseas, as well as a falling Shanghai/LME lead price ratio. A total of 2,204 mt of refined lead was exported from China during 2012, but this figure was down almost 64.03% YoY. The vast majority of exports, or 84%, were shipped to Taiwan (China), with the remainder to India and Vietnam.

China Refined Lead Imports Up 3.31% in 2012
According to China Customs, refined lead imports during December were up by 73.81% over November levels, at 365 mt, while total imports for the year were 6,830 mt, up by 3.31% from 2011.

Over 80% of December’s refined lead imports were from Australia, with the remainder primarily from Japan. Although China only imported 7 mt of refined lead from South Korea during December, the country actually supplied 76% of China’s total lead imports for 2012, followed by 9.5% from Singapore and 7.3% from Australia.

China December Lead Concentrate Imports Down 34.85%
Data from China Customs showed lead concentrate imports during December were 115,800 mt, down by 34.85% MoM. Total 2012 imports were 1.815 million mt, up 25.77% YoY.

Jiangxi’s Duchang County Lands Secondary Lead & Polar Plate Plant
Jiangxi Jindu Technology has signed a RMB 600 million investment agreement with Duchang County to build a secondary lead and polar plate battery production facility there.

Jiangxi Jindu Technology’s new facility in Duchang will reportedly produce 60,000 mt of secondary lead and 6 million polar plates each year. The project is expected to be completed and enter production in two and half years. Siting of the 200,000 m2 project will be determined by environmental protection experts. The factory floor will take 130,000 m2, 50,000 m2 will be warehouses, and the remaining 14,000 m2 will go to office space. At full capacity, the project is expected to generate RMB 2.5 billion in revenues and RMB 200 million in tax receipts per year.