Secondary lead smelters operating rate slumped on output restrictions 

SHANGHAI, Nov 1 (SMM) – Operating rates across licensed smelters of secondary lead in Jiangsu, Anhui and Henan provinces averaged 43% in the week ended November 1, down sharply by 10.3 percentage points from the previous week amid anti-smog output controls, according to SMM survey.

The operating rate in Anhui reduced 17.1 percentage points on the week to 22.9%, as local secondary lead smelters were told to shut down on October 30 after the implementation of pollution restriction alert.

Henan smelters saw their operating rates plunging 24.5 percentage points from a week ago, to 31.7%, as full suspension of battery disassembling lines at major producer Jinli offset the recovery of refining lines at Jinpeng. 

SMM learned that Henan Jinli will likely to resume a battery disassembling line over the weekend. 

Average operating rate in Jiangsu, however, rose 8 percentage points week on week to stand at 74.7%, lifted by ramped-up production at New Chunxing.