SHANGHAI, Aug 7 (SMM) – The operating rate across primary lead smelters in China is likely to extend July’s gains in August as environmental probes by the central government wound down and as maintenance at some smelters ended, SMM expects.

The rate increased 4.48 percentage points from the prior month to 60.83% in July, 3.67 percentage points down from the same period in 2017. In August, the rate is expected to stand at 63.29%.