Environmental Factor to Weigh on China Refined Lead Operating Rates to a New Low

SHANGHAI, Jul. 27 (SMM) – Average operating rate at major Chinese primary lead smelters is expected to fall to 56.75% and 52.92% respectively in July and August, refreshing the year’s new low, SMM predicts.

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China’s primary lead output was 269,500 tonnes in June and is forecast to drop to 31,000 tonnes in July, and to slip further to 15,000 tonnes in August.

The central environmental protection inspectors stationed Henan, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Ningxia, Yunnan, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang and Guangxi. And primary lead output in the eight provinces account for 65% in China’s total output with Henan and Yunnan as the major producing regions.  

“Lead smelters in Yunnan’s Gejiu all shut down following the environmental protection crackdowns. The inspection also affects production at crude lead smelters and small miners” , SMM analyst said. 

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