SHANGHAI, Mar 22 (SMM) – Chinese primary lead smelters operated at higher rates in the week ended Friday March 22 as production restrictions were lifted in Henan and Hebei provides after the political sessions. 

Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces averaged 58.7% in the week through March 22, up 2.3 percentage points from a week earlier. 

This week, primary smelters in Henan operated at an average rate of 73.5%, up 4.5 percentage points on the week, driven by the recovery of Wanyang and Minshan smelters after production curbs. Henan Xinling will end maintenance on March 25, and may restart to generate output after April 1.  

In the week to March 22, primary smelters in Yunnan operated at an average rate of 36.9%, and Hunan smelters at 47.7%, both flat on the week. 

Hunan Jingui planned to conduct maintenance from the start of April, and this may affect output of primary lead by 6,000-8,000 mt/month. 

Other smelters are scheduled to maintain normal operation in April. This will have limited impact to the overall output of primary lead in April.