Maintenance lowers operating rates across primary lead smelters

SHANGHAI, Jan 25 (SMM) – Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces declined 3 percentage points from the previous week and averaged 52.6% in the week through January 25, SMM data showed.

Rates across plants in Henan fell 2.4 percentage points to 74.6% as Qinling Smelting started maintenance. The smelter continued to produce a small amount of primary lead this week as the maintenance was conducted on crude lead processes. Maintenance is likely to continue after Chinese New Year.

Some smelters in Hunan also began maintenance this week and this lowered the operating rates across the region by 1.5 percentage points.

Rates across plants in Yunnan slumped 5.9 percentage points this week. Yunnan Zhenxing began maintenance this week, which is likely to last after the CNY and affect output by 1,000-1,500 mt.

The Yunnan-based Chihong Zinc & Germanium also began maintenance this week, but the current maintenance was conducted on the crude lead stage. Production of primary lead is likely to be affected in February.