SHANGHAI, Jul 10 (SMM) – Operating rates across lead-acid battery producers in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei and Hebei provinces averaged 64.68% in the week ended July 10, up 0.99 percentage point from a week ago, on the back of optimistic prospects for consumption and prices, showed an SMM survey.

End-users demand for lead-acid batteries has been moderate in July, but expectations of a hike in prices in the wholesale market, following higher prices of lead, prompted retailers to step up restocking. This was particularly seen in the electric bicycle battery market, and the inventory pressure at related battery producers has eased.

Offers in the automobile battery market varied. While a rise in lead prices added producers cost and increased their tendency to hike offers, intense competition in the sector drove some car battery makers to lower offers to boost sales. Some automobile battery plants have raised their scheduled output by 5-10% for July as export demand and orders improve.