[Pb Output]China Lead Concentrate Output Slips 8.72% YoY in H1 2015

SHANGHAI, Jul. 24 (SMM) – China lead concentrate production totaled 1.138 million tonnes during January-June 2015, down 8.72% YoY, China’s National Bureau of Statistics reported.

Domestic concentrate output came in at 0.25 million tonnes in June 2015, edging down 0.9% versus June 2014.

Ore suppliers kept low operation rate against sluggish lead and silver prices. SMM #1 lead prices averaged 12,972.9 yuan per tonne in the first six months of 2015, decreasing 900.8 yuan per tonne YoY. In the same period, SMM #2 silver prices averaged 3,527.1 yuan/kg, down 591.7 yuan/kg from January-June 2014.

Environmental protection cracks also limited concentrate production at ore suppliers. Lots of mines were closed owing to strict environmental protection inspection in Fujian, Sichuan, Guangxi, etc. since 2015. During January-June, concentrate output fell 79.44% YoY, 62.4% YoY and 33.28% YoY in Fujian, Sichuan and Guangxi, respectively.

Concentrate production dropped 16,000 tonnes form May in June, resulting from the production drop of 30,000 tonnes to 113,000 tonnes in Inner Mongolia, SMM learnt.

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