Secondary lead smelters operating rates rose to 53.1% this week

SHANGHAI, Dec 11 (SMM) – Operating rates across licensed smelters of secondary lead in Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan and Guizhou averaged 53.1% in the week ended December 11, up 0.5 percentage point from the previous week, showed an SMM survey. 

The average operating rates in Anhui and Jiangsu remained unchanged on the week at 47.1% and 33.3% respectively.

Henan Jinli resuming production lines after purchasing sufficient raw materials lifted the average local operating rate by 17 percentage points to 78.5%.

The average operating rate in Guizhou gained 1.2 percentage points to 68.8%, as Jinlong completed technology upgrading and Yongxin recovered from equipment maintenance while Dingxin reduced output due to environmental inspections.

Operating rates are likely to rise further next week, as Jiangsu New Chunxing is expected to ramp up production as cash flow issues were resolved, and Guizhou Dingxin is likely to return to normal production after the environmental inspections end.