SHANGHAI, May 13 (SMM) – Operating rates at lead-acid battery producers across Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, and Hebei provinces lost 0.3 percentage point from the week ended April 26 and averaged 49.42% in the week through Friday May 10, showed SMM data on Monday May 13.

Consumption across lead-acid battery market did not improve significantly in the week after the Labour Day holiday. This kept inventories of finished goods across producers high, and eroded production enthusiasm.

With June approaching, the average operating rate across lead-acid battery producers is likely to rise, as large producers step up production for better results in their mid-year reports. The increase is expected in the second half of May, given current high levels of inventories.