SHANGHAI, Nov 2 (SMM) – Average operating rates across Chinese lead-acid battery producers edged down on the week as plants slowed purchases of raw materials on surging lead prices this week. 

Rates averaged 69.12% for the week ended Friday November 2, down 0.1 percentage point from a week ago, SMM data showed.  

Weaker demand from end-users also depressed production enthusiasm across plants. Some medium-sized and small producers lowered operating rates as a result, SMM learned. 

However, large plants operated at a relatively higher rate as orders from distributors held stable. This limited the decline in overall operating rates.