Primary lead smelters operate steadily on week, most to begin maintenance in May

Published: Apr 26, 2019 12:03

Save

Maintenance expected to lower output of primary lead by 25,000-30,000 mt in May

SHANGHAI, Apr 26 (SMM) – Chinese primary lead smelters maintained regular operation in the week ended Friday April 26, and destocked before downstream battery plants closed for the upcoming Labour Day holiday.

Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces averaged 59% in the week through April 26, flat from a week earlier.

This week, primary smelters in Henan operated at an average rate of 77.7%, smelters in Yunnan at 27.7%, and Hunan smelters at 47.7%.

Yunnan Chihong Zinc & Germanium and Anhui Tongguan will recover form maintenance in May, but Hunan Jingui will start maintenance on April 28, Hechi Nanfang on May 15, and Chifengshan Gold Silver & Lead on April 26. This is expected to lower output of primary lead by 25,000-30,000 mt month on month in May, and to provide upward momentum in lead prices after fundamentals weighed on prices for nearly half a year.

SMM expects changes in social inventories of primary lead in May to reflect the actual impact of maintenance and to determine lead prices.

Operating rates Primary lead

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM‘s internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn

For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn

Related News

19 hours ago

Lead Prices Stagnant, Smelters Maintain Firm Offers Amid Losses

Lead prices were in the doldrums, while secondary lead smelters maintained firm offers due to losses. The mainstream spot order ex-factory prices including tax narrowed the discount to the SMM #1 lead average price by 100 yuan/mt, shifting to a premium of 0–25 yuan/mt, with some smelters halting offers and sales.

19 hours ago

"Domestic Secondary Crude Lead Market Slows as Holidays Approach, Smelters Halt Production"

Pre-holiday stockpiling by downstream enterprises had largely concluded, and a few had already entered the holiday period, completely suspending procurement. Next week, secondary lead smelters will enter a concentrated wave of production halts and holidays, resulting in sluggish trading activity in the spot market. Offers for spot refined lead orders were sparse, with prices moving in line with the market.

19 hours ago

Sluggish Transactions in Domestic Secondary Crude Lead Market, Prices at 15,250-15,400 Yuan/mt

The domestic secondary crude lead market experienced sluggish transactions. As of February 6, 2026, the ex-factory tax-exclusive offers for domestic secondary crude lead stood at 15,250-15,400 yuan/mt. Downstream refined lead and alloy smelters gradually entered the holiday period, showing weak stockpiling willingness. Overseas lead ingot suppliers basically halted transactions with China due to poor consumption in the Chinese market, with only some previously concluded shipments maintaining normal in-transit transportation. The trading atmosphere in the secondary crude lead market will continue to weaken next week.

19 hours ago