Operating rates at Hunan primary lead smelters climb as environmental probes end

SHANGHAI, Nov 30 (SMM) – Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces averaged 43.5% in the week through November 30, up 0.3 percentage point from the previous week, SMM data showed.

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

Smelters in Hunan operated 3.1 percentage points higher this week as the end of the central government’s environmental probes allowed smelters to recover output.

Average operating rates across smelters in Henan dipped 1.2 percentage points this week as production curbs lingered amid heavy pollution. Some small plants were required to cut capacity by 30%.

Some smelters in Yunnan and Henan plan to resume operation in December and this is likely to lift the average operating rate next week.