Lead-acid battery makers operating rates climbed to 50.55% as Hubei gradually resumed work

SHANGHAI, Mar 13 (SMM) – Operating rates across Chinese lead-acid battery plants continued to increase this week as producers in the COVID-19 epicentre of Hubei resumed work.

An SMM survey showed that operating rate across lead-acid battery producers in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei and Hebei provinces averaged 50.55% in the week ended March 13, up 2.46 percentage points from last week.

Most of Chinese lead-acid battery producers have resumed operations, after the resumption of small plants in Hebei and Henan and other regions this month. Those small plants suspended production for nearly two months, due to sluggish orders and manpower issues. Operating rates at some major producers have climbed to 70-80%.

Hubei on Wednesday announced differentiated business and production resumption plans based on the epidemic situations of the counties in the province. Camel Group announced on the same day the resumption of its lead-acid battery plant and lead recycling plant in Hubei.