Operating rates of primary lead smelters up 0.24 percentage point on week

SHANGHAI, Jul 16 (SMM) - Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces gained 0.24 percentage point from the previous week to 61.8% in the week ended July 16, showed an SMM survey.

In Henan, Shibin slightly increased production than normal in July, while Minshan reduced production slightly. Yunnan Mengzi started the maintenance on lead smelter system for 20 days this week, and is expected to resume production in August. Refined lead production stood normal this week, but the output is expected to drop slightly next week. Chifeng Shanjin resumed production after maintenance, but not in full capacity, and is expected to return to normal next week. Smelters in Yunnan has received the notice of power curtailment, but the actual production cut is still in assessment, and there’s not significant impact on the current output.