SHANGHAI, Sep 4 (SMM) – Operating rates across licensed smelters of secondary lead in Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan and Guizhou averaged 60.5% in the week ended September 4, up 1.3 percentage points from the previous week, showed an SMM survey.

The average operating rates in Anhui, Jiangsu and Guizhou remained unchanged at 54.8%, 66.7% and 44.2% respectively, as low profits deterred smelters from ramping up production.

The average operating rate in Henan jumped 7.2 percentage points on the week to 78.5%, as Jinli recovered from maintenance and gradually stepped up production.

Implementation of the new solid waste law hindered trans-provincial transportation of battery scrap, and most of the smelters mainly used existing feedstock inventories. Operating rates are likely to fall next week due to shortage of raw materials.