Growth in supplies of lead concentrate buoy TCs in Yunnan, Hunan

SHANGHAI, Aug 6 (SMM) – Smelters in Yunnan, Hunan provinces raised treatment charges (TCs) for lead concentrate last week as supplies of lead concentrate grew. The increase in TCs followed hikes in Henan, Inner Mongolia and Guangxi in July, SMM learned.

The increases in the two regions stood at 100 yuan/mt in lead content. As of Monday August 6, TCs stood at 1,600-1,800 yuan/mt in lead content in Yunnan, 1,600-1,700 yuan/mt in lead content in Hunan, 1,700-1,900 yuan/mt in lead content in Henan, 1,750-1,900 yuan/mt in lead content in Inner Mongolia, and 1,400-1,700 yuan/mt in lead content in Guangxi.

Miners in Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Yunnan gradually resumed operation from the beginning of August as temperatures climbed. This grew supplies of lead concentrate.

Smelters were not keen to stockpile raw materials as the market declined. This gave them greater bargaining power over miners.