SHANGHAI, Sep 24 (SMM) – The operating rates across licensed smelters of secondary lead in Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan and Guizhou averaged 56.02% in the week ended September 24, down 4.18 percentage points from the previous week, an SMM survey showed.

The operating rates fell significantly mainly due to the falling lead prices and the reduced or suspended production in the secondary refined lead smelters amid wider losses. The large-scale secondary lead smelters also reduced output slightly amid the power rationing. The smelters in Anhui received the notice to cut the production by 20-30%. Huabo, Chilwee, Dahua and other companies started to control the power consumption, and the output declined. Jiangsu New Chunxing also lowered the operating rate due to the power rationing and lower lead prices.

Xinyu in Guangdong, Jiujiang huijin, Zhenyu, and Fengri in Jiangxi, Songhe in Hebei, and other secondary lead smelters gradually suspended production for maintenance. The overall secondary lead output declined.

The secondary lead smelters will be cautious in production due to the power rationing and falling prices, and more small-scale secondary lead smelters will reduce production. The operating rates are expected to keep falling.