SHANGHAI, Jun 12 (SMM) – The average operating rate across licensed smelters of secondary lead in major producing areas was little changed this week, as gains from increased production and recovery from maintenance were offset by continued maintenance at some other smelter.

An SMM survey showed that operating rates across licensed smelters of secondary lead in Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan and Guizhou averaged 46.4% in the week ended June 12, down 0.1 percentage point from the previous week.

The operating rate remained unchanged at 53.3% in Jiangsu as smelters were still grappling with tight battery scrap supply.

With Dahua still in maintenance, the average operating rate in Anhui fell by another 4.8 percentage points to 35.5% this week.

The operating rate in Henan increased 1.1 percentage points to 50.9%, as Huarui stepped up output slightly.

In Guizhou, Yongxin ramped up production to normal while Jinlong wrapped up maintenance, lifting the average operating rate across the region by 8.6 percentage points to 54.5%.