Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces averaged 52.3% in the week ended May 22, unchanged from a week ago as smelters maintained stable operations, showed an SMM survey.

Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces averaged 52.3% in the week ended May 15, down 1.1 percentage point from the previous week, showed an SMM survey.

Resumption of production in Yunnan and Sichuan accounted for the rally in April’s operating rates. Silicon plants in Nujiang of Yunnan and Ngawa and Leshan of Sichuan reopened part of their capacity ahead of the arrival of rainy session, and this offset some capacity curtailment in Xinjiang and Chongqing due to losses and tight ore supply. 

Last month, the capacity in operation reduced in Xinjiang, Sichuan and Shaanxi. Continued raw materials shortage kept major silicon plants in Xinjiang from resuming the capacity that has been shut down since February. Meanwhile, falling silicon prices prompted some medium-scale producers to cut output or undergo maintenance in the second half of March. 

Operating rates across licensed smelters of secondary lead in Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan and Guizhou continued to increase, rising 9.2 percentage points from the prior week to 49.6% in the week ended April 10, showed an SMM survey. The increase in production, however, remained capped due to battery scrap supply issue.

Major producers moved up a gear as they accelerated hiring and more workers have returned. Accelerated operations in Hubei were the major driver behind the overall higher operating rate this week.

Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces averaged 50.1% in the week ended March 13, up 0.7 percentage point from the prior week, showed an SMM survey.

An increase in the capacity utilisation rates at Henan Shibin smelter and Henan Hongyang Lead lifted the average operating rate in Henan by 1.9 percentage points on the week to 61.6%. 

Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces averaged 44.5% in the week ended February 14, down 1.7 percentage points from the previous week, showed an SMM survey

This marked a fourth consecutive week of decline in battery maker operations