Operating rates at lead-acid battery makers edge higher on week

SHANGHAI, Aug 30 (SMM) – Lead-acid battery producers in China operated at an average higher rate this week with procurement enthusiasm from distributors varying in different regions. 

An SMM survey showed that the average operating rate across lead-acid battery producers in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, and Hebei provinces climbed 0.29 percentage point from the previous week, to 53.35% in the week ended Friday August 30.

Despite a traditional high season for electric bike batteries, distributors in some areas procured cautiously as the back-to-school shopping season drew to an end. While lead prices surged this week, distributors purchased as required at the end of a month as downstream demand for auto batteries remained sluggish. 

SMM learned that battery producers for both electric bikes and automobiles held their operating rates generally stable this week.