SHANGHAI, Sep 10 (SMM) — Operating rates across licensed smelters of secondary lead in Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan and Guizhou stood at 61.11% this week, down 1.62% from the previous week, an SMM survey showed.
The secondary smelters tightened their production plans as most of them continued to suffer losses and demand failed to increase sharply. Output at some small smelters declined amid market fluctuations. Although most companies were at a loss this week, costs across companies varied. The losses at individual small smelters in Jiangxi and Henan were eased, which resumed production from maintenance this week. But this part of increment failed to change the trend of declining production across four markets. Operating rates at secondary smelters are expected to increase amid the end of maintenance at individual smelters in Anhui and Guangdong.