SHANGHAI, Mar 8 (SMM) – China’s production of primary lead stood at 225,000 mt in February, down 17.8% on the month but up 7.9% on the year, showed an SMM survey.

Fewer working days for the month, holiday suspension across small and medium-sized smelters in Hunan, Yunnan and Henan and maintenance across Hunan Yuteng, Silver Star, Henan Qinling and Yunnan Zhenxing accounted for the month-on-month decline. This came even as large smelters maintained normal production during CNY.

In February 2018, snowstorms drove regions like Jiangxi and Hunan to limit power supplies, resulting in suspension across smelters in the regions. This led to the year-on-year growth in production.

In March, smelters recovered from holidays and have more days of operation. This, combined with the end of maintenance across Hunan Yuteng, Silver Star and Yunnan Zhenxing, is likely to bolster output of primary lead for the month to 264,000 mt.