SHANGHAI, Feb 21 (SMM) – More Chinese lead-acid battery producers resumed operations this week, as authorities loosened travel and transportation restrictions and speeded up the approval for business resumption.

An SMM survey showed that the average operating rate across lead-acid battery producers in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei and Hebei provinces stood at 34.12% in the week ended February 21, up 23.78 percentage points from last week.

Operating rates at reopened plants, however, were low due to a shortage of manpower. Operating rates at Chinese lead-acid battery producers now are 30-60%, and companies with the majority of workers being locals could operate at a rate of about 70%.

The average operating rate is set to increase further next week, as more lead-acid battery producers will resume operations.