SHANGHAI, Oct 12 (SMM) – China's output of primary lead in September inched up 2.16%, or some 5,000 mt, from August and stood at 253,400. This is down 15.78% from a year earlier. 

In January-September, overall output of primary lead fell 10.26% from last year and came in at 2.19 million mt, showed SMM data. SMM had forecast September output of 249,000 mt.

Gains in primary lead output exceeded expectations as some smelters in Liaoning postponed maintenance and as some in Yunnan, Henan and Anhui recovered production from maintenance or technological upgrading. With the end of the year approaching, some smelters stepped up output to meet annual production and sales targets. This also helped to drive up the overall output in September.

Last month, some smelters in Hunan failed to operate at full capacity as supplies of concentrate tightened and environmental probes were underway, while some smelters in Yunnan and Qinghai undertook maintenance.

SMM expects little change in overall output for October as output recovery or increases at some smelters would be offset by suspended production at other smelters for maintenance. Overall output of primary lead is likely to stand at 252,000 mt in October.