Primary lead smelters operating rates fell to 57.5% this week

Published: Dec 31, 2020 17:13

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Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces lost 2 percentage points from the previous week to 57.5% in the week ended December 31, showed an SMM survey.

SHANGHAI, Dec 31 (SMM) ― Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces lost 2 percentage points from the previous week to 57.5% in the week ended December 31, showed an SMM survey.

The average operating rate dropped 3.7 percentage points to 70.7% in Henan as Henan Minshan reduced production and Shibin started a ten-day routine maintenance from December 30.

Further output cuts at Hunan Shuikoushan and Jinxin lowered local operating rate by 0.9 percentage point to 50.7%.

The average operating rate added 0.6 percentage point to 35.6% in Yunnan as Gejiu Chuangyuan continued to ramp up production. Yunnan Mengzi is expected to overhaul its refined lead lines next week. Lead concentrate supply was tight in Yunnan.

Operating rates Primary lead

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