Licensed smelters of secondary lead operate at high rate of 55.29% in Mar

SHANGHAI, Apr 12 (SMM) – Operating rates across China's licensed secondary lead smelters averaged 55.29% in March, up 22.49 percentage points on the month, SMM data showed on Thursday April 11. 

A greater number of working days after CNY, and production growth at smelters of Anhui Narada Huabo, Hubei Jinyang, and Tianjin Dongbang accounted for the higher rates. 

Output of secondary lead across those licensed smelters is estimated to grow 65,000 mt from February to stand at 159,800 mt in March. SMM surveyed 28 licensed smelters of secondary lead, covering capacity of 3.47 million mt. 

Operating rates across non-licensed secondary lead smelters in China also rebounded in March, as higher prices of lead in the first half of March improved profits and encouraged them to step up operation after CNY breaks. 

Concerns about lower prices of lead in April also pushed non-licensed smelters to accelerate production in March, SMM learned.