Holiday closure lowers operating rates across lead-acid battery producers

SHANGHAI, Apr 4 (SMM) – Operating rates at lead-acid battery producers across Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, and Hebei provinces lost 1.74 percentage points from the previous week and averaged 54.85% in the week through Thursday April 4, showed SMM data.

Some battery mills planned to close for up to two days during the Qingming Festival holiday, and this dragged on the operating rates. 

In-plant stocks at battery producers depleted slowly, even as a seasonal lull drove them to promote sales. Weak prices of lead and slow trades at distributors also grew caution of battery producers. 

SMM expects a recovery of production to increase the operating rates next week. Transactions of lead ingot may also improve as battery mills restock after the holiday.