Nonferrous metals were higher for the most part in volatile trading on Tuesday morning as oil prices reversed earlier gains to move lower.

Operating rate across lead-acid battery producers in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei and Hebei provinces averaged 63.67% in the week ended May 15, up 3.52 percentage points from the previous week, showed an SMM survey.

Nonferrous metals traded mixed on Friday morning as investors awaited the release of Chinese economic data.

Tsingshan’s stainless steel mill in south China’s Fujian province has just made another large purchase of high-grade nickel pig iron (NPI), bringing its cumulative procurement for this month to 100,000 mt which is estimated to secure its production until at least July.

SHFE base metals closed mixed on the last trading day of April, as investors assessed mixed Chinese economic data and positive developments on a potential new treatment for Covid-19.

China’s customs administration has released March import and export data for nonferrous metals products, which could provide some cues and a sneak peak into the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown to businesses.

Operating rates across licensed smelters of secondary lead in Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan and Guizhou held steady at 49.6% in the week ended April 24, showed an SMM survey.

SHFE base metals closed mixed on Wednesday, as the historic oil price plunge continued.

Spot nickel trades in east China’s Shanghai were brisk on Wednesday morning, as Shanghai nickel futures suffered a second straight day of steep losses amid a relentless plunge in oil prices.

SHFE nonferrous metals closed higher across the board on Friday, as fresh optimism over the coronavirus pandemic helped investors shrug off dismal economic data. Aluminium extended its rally, advancing 3.2% on the day to the biggest gainer, and registered its best week since August 2017. Nickel surged 2.7%, tin jumped 2.1%, copper climbed 1.9%, zinc rose 1.3%, and lead increased 0.5%.