SHANGHAI, Jan 22 (SMM) – Operating rates across licensed smelters of secondary lead in Jiangsu, Anhui and Henan provinces averaged 34.2% during January 18-22, down 10.6 percentage points from the week ended January 17, showed a SMM survey.

Several smelters suspended production ahead of the Chinese New Year holidays, leading to a sharp decline in the average operating rate this week.

The operating rate in Henan slipped 3.7 percentage points to 46.4%, as Anyang Jinpeng and Xinxiang Huarui kicked off their CNY break.

In Anhui, Huabo halted production around January 19 for maintenance which is likely to last for a month, which lowered the operating rate across the region by 24 percentage points to 8%.

The rate for Jiangsu was unchanged at 56%.