Primary lead smelters operating rates rose to 53.3%

SHANGHAI, Jul 3 (SMM) – Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces averaged 53.3% in the week ended July 3, up 1.7 percentage points from the previous week, showed an SMM survey.

The average operating rate for smelters in Henan rose to 64.4%, while that for Hunan dipped 0.5 percentage point to 44.5% as Shuikoushan began maintenance, which started from the smelting stage and is expected to affect supply of refined lead by 1,000-2,000 mt.

The average operating rate for smelters in Yunnan remained unchanged at 38%. Chihong Zinc & Germanium is expected to wrap up the maintenance on its electrolytic production line on July 10.

Some smelters who produce deliverable cargoes have ramped up operations to brace for the upcoming expiry of the July contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange, which is expected to see nearly 20,000 mt of physical cargoes delivered, and brands include Nanfang, Mulun, Yuguang, Jiangtong and Tongguan.

Sluggish spot trades drove smelters to the delivery of the futures contract as the price spreads between futures and spot prices currently stand at 100 yuan/mt.