Primary lead smelters operating rate edged higher on TC increase

SHANGHAI, Jan 10 (SMM) – Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces averaged 59.9% in the week ending January 10, up 0.1 percentage point from the previous week, according to a SMM survey.

The operating rates for Henan and Yunnan remained unchanged at 70.7% and 43.8%, respectively, ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday.

The rate for Hunan increased 0.5 percentage point to 52.1%, as some smelters stepped up production on the back of an increase in treatment charges (TCs) for lead concentrate.