[SMM monthly selection] April lead ingots are expected to turn into small accumulations of spot lead or fall below 24th again

Published: Apr 13, 2020 15:15

SMM4 13: in March, lead prices as a whole showed a "V" trend. Due to the control of the domestic epidemic situation, the downstream enterprises of lead basically returned to work in an all-round way, and the background of going to the warehouse promoted the rise of spot lead, while the outbreak of overseas epidemic situation caused the contract of lead main force 2005 to fall below the two levels of 14000 and 130 million / ton one after another. the lowest is 12620 yuan / ton, directly approaching the cost line of the mine.

At present, in April, the consumption performance of the lower reaches of lead is general, entering the off-season of traditional consumption, coupled with the crackdown on market consumption power by the epidemic this year, exports continue to be blocked, lead battery enterprises are generally accumulating, and there is a tendency to reduce production. Support for follow-up lead prices is limited. Overall, it is expected that in the middle and late April, lead ingots will change from storage to small accumulation, spot lead may fall below 10, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000.

Selected contents of monthly report

The following hot spots should be paid attention to in the follow-up lead market:

First, the overseas epidemic situation has not yet been effectively controlled, which is still a major uncertain factor. Overseas outbreaks, on the one hand, continue to crack down on the global economy, although countries have introduced a number of policies to boost the economy, but before the epidemic is brought under control, it is still the primary negative factor. On the other hand, as far as lead fundamentals are concerned, it is mainly reflected in the import of mines and the export of batteries, and both supply and demand decline.

Second, the profit of recycled lead will be repaired, the enterprise will resume work and the new expansion will be released. As an alternative product, recycled lead interferes directly to the band of lead price. In April, recycled lead resumed production and new expanded production capacity was gradually released, and the month's output doubled month-on-month, and is expected to reach a level of more than 200000 tons. As of April 10, the transaction price of recycled refined lead has reached 150-100 yuan per ton of electrolytic lead. According to historical observation, the price difference between recycled refined lead and primary lead has reached 200 yuan / ton, and lead consumption will obviously turn to recycled lead.

In March and April, the lead battery market entered the traditional consumption off-season, coupled with the crackdown on market consumption power by the epidemic this year, exports continued to be blocked, lead battery enterprises generally accumulated storage, and there was a tendency to reduce production, and support for follow-up lead prices was limited.

Of course, the "tax cut (rumored earlier that VAT is expected to be cut by 1-2%)" still needs to be followed in April, waiting for the two sessions to be held.

Overall, it is expected that in the middle and late April, lead ingots will change from storage to small accumulation, spot lead may fall below 10, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000.

Lead battery: in April, due to the relatively large production capacity of lead battery enterprises in Hubei, the normal production time was less than 2 / 3 in March and the whole month in April. The operating rate in this area is expected to rise month-on-month. However, in view of the outbreak of the overseas epidemic, from the European and American markets to the Southeast Asian markets, the export of batteries such as cars, communications, and motorcycles was restricted, and export enterprises were either canceled their orders, or because they could not be transported, and the finished products were passively accumulated, and some enterprises began to reduce the operating rate of production lines. In addition, the end of the electric bicycle battery market consumption downturn, the opening season consumption expectations can not be fulfilled, SMM expects the lead battery operating rate in April may show a downward trend, the decline is expected to be 2-3 percentage points.

"Click to view the SMM lead industry chain database

More:

Investigation data of SMM lead concentrate

Data Summary of SMM Refining lead Industry

SMM lead price and spot discount

Investigation on operating rate of lead concentrate Enterprises in March 2020

Comparative chart of lead concentrate imports in 2019 and 2020

Investigation on operating rate of Primary lead smelter in March 2020

Social inventory of lead in Shanghai and Guangdong

Investigation on Operation rate of recycled lead Refinery in March 2020

Investigation on operating rate of lead Battery Enterprises in March 2020

Lead oxide

"Click order to view the details of the report

"Click to sign up for SMM" 2020 (15th) lead and Zinc Summit

Activity Tips:

Lottery Note: lottery links are currently available only to users who have successfully paid for their registration.

Customer service QR code

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM‘s internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn
For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn
Related News
Lead Prices Stagnant, Smelters Maintain Firm Offers Amid Losses
20 hours ago
Lead Prices Stagnant, Smelters Maintain Firm Offers Amid Losses
Read More
Lead Prices Stagnant, Smelters Maintain Firm Offers Amid Losses
Lead Prices Stagnant, Smelters Maintain Firm Offers Amid Losses
Lead prices were in the doldrums, while secondary lead smelters maintained firm offers due to losses. The mainstream spot order ex-factory prices including tax narrowed the discount to the SMM #1 lead average price by 100 yuan/mt, shifting to a premium of 0–25 yuan/mt, with some smelters halting offers and sales.
20 hours ago
"Domestic Secondary Crude Lead Market Slows as Holidays Approach, Smelters Halt Production"
20 hours ago
"Domestic Secondary Crude Lead Market Slows as Holidays Approach, Smelters Halt Production"
Read More
"Domestic Secondary Crude Lead Market Slows as Holidays Approach, Smelters Halt Production"
"Domestic Secondary Crude Lead Market Slows as Holidays Approach, Smelters Halt Production"
Pre-holiday stockpiling by downstream enterprises had largely concluded, and a few had already entered the holiday period, completely suspending procurement. Next week, secondary lead smelters will enter a concentrated wave of production halts and holidays, resulting in sluggish trading activity in the spot market. Offers for spot refined lead orders were sparse, with prices moving in line with the market.
20 hours ago
Sluggish Transactions in Domestic Secondary Crude Lead Market, Prices at 15,250-15,400 Yuan/mt
20 hours ago
Sluggish Transactions in Domestic Secondary Crude Lead Market, Prices at 15,250-15,400 Yuan/mt
Read More
Sluggish Transactions in Domestic Secondary Crude Lead Market, Prices at 15,250-15,400 Yuan/mt
Sluggish Transactions in Domestic Secondary Crude Lead Market, Prices at 15,250-15,400 Yuan/mt
The domestic secondary crude lead market experienced sluggish transactions. As of February 6, 2026, the ex-factory tax-exclusive offers for domestic secondary crude lead stood at 15,250-15,400 yuan/mt. Downstream refined lead and alloy smelters gradually entered the holiday period, showing weak stockpiling willingness. Overseas lead ingot suppliers basically halted transactions with China due to poor consumption in the Chinese market, with only some previously concluded shipments maintaining normal in-transit transportation. The trading atmosphere in the secondary crude lead market will continue to weaken next week.
20 hours ago
[SMM monthly selection] April lead ingots are expected to turn into small accumulations of spot lead or fall below 24th again - Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)