SHANGHAI, Mar. 18 (SMM) – Primary lead production in China will increase rapidly by 250,000 tonnes to 3.3 million tonnes in 2016, an SMM lead-zinc analyst said at the 2016 (11th) Shanghai Lead & Zinc Summit March 17.

Higher TCs for domestic concentrate will boost production at lead producers and commissioning of new capacity will also grow domestic lead production this year.

Primary lead operating rates in H1 2015 were dampened by low TCs and sluggish prices of lead and by-products. In January 2015, average operating rate at primary lead producers hit a low of 51.3% since 2007 and was as low as 55.92% in April. This leaves upside room for primary lead production in 2016.   

Production registers large growth currently at Chihong Zn&Ge and Anyang Minshan Nonferrous Metals Co. who cut production in a large scale in 2015. Besides, Tongguan Nonferrous Metals restarted operation in 2016 after suspending refined lead production in 2015.

Domestic new online capacity of primary lead totaled 160,000 tonnes in the second half of 2015 and should be 160,000 tonnes this year.  

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