Maintenance, concentrate shortages lower operating rates across primary lead smelters

SHANGHAI, Nov 23 (SMM) – Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces averaged 43.2% in the week through November 23, down 1.5 percentage points from the previous week, SMM data showed.

Average operating rates across smelters in Henan dipped 1.2 percentage points this week as the output recovery from smog-alert curbs failed to offset the output cut by maintenance at a large smelter.

Smelters in Hunan operated 3.3 percentage points lower this week as supply shortages of lead concentrate impacted production at some smelters. We expect primary lead output across smelters in Hunan to recover next week.

Primary lead smelting capacity across Henan, Hunan and Yunnan accounted for some 70% of capacity across China.