UNITED KINGDOM February 10 2015 9:31 AMTweet
NEW YORK (Scrap Register): Global demand for refined lead metal increased by 1% mainly as a result of rises of 2.3% and 1.2% in Europe and China respectively, as per the latest figures from International Lead and Zinc Study Group. Usage in the United States declined by 0.6%.
According to ILZSG, Global lead mine production decreased by 2.8% compared to the same period of 2013. This was mainly a consequence of lower output in Bolivia, China and South Africa that more than offset rises in Australia, Peru, and the United States.
Despite reductions in Japan and the United States, global refined lead metal production rose by 1.2%. This was due primarily to increased output in China, India, Italy, Kazakhstan and the Republic of Korea.
Chinese net imports of lead contained in lead concentrates totalled 896kt over the first eleven months of 2014, an increase of 22% compared to the same period of 2013.