SHANGHAI, Jul 4 (SMM) – Secondary lead producers in Jiangxi province are likely to gradually resume production after month-long environmental reviews by the central government ended on Sunday July 1, SMM believes.

Last week, secondary lead smelters had begun to stockpile raw materials. Some 200-300 mt of daily output of secondary refined lead supply has resumed so far. SMM learned that some smelters planned to return to regular production this week.

Secondary lead smelters were required to suspend fully when environmental inspectors arrived in Jiangxi in June. As production returns to normal, lead supplies from Jiangxi are likely to grow in July.

Production at some secondary refined lead smelters in Taihe, Anhui province also recovered slightly, with daily output of some 300 mt, as rectifications at smelters stopped temporarily on government orders. The reason behind the temporary suspension of rectifications remains unclear. A source at a smelter told SMM that its current output stood at some 50% of usual output as this temporary reprieve continues to limit the production. Rectifications are likely to continue to the end of this year.