SHANGHAI, Sep 24 (SMM) - The average operating rate across lead-acid battery producers in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei and Hebei provinces decreased 0.22 percentage point from September 17 to 67.93% as of Friday September 24.

According to SMM survey, some lead-acid battery plants took a one-day holiday for the Mid-Autumn Festival this week. The power rationing intensified after the holiday, especially in Jiangsu, Guangdong, and Anhui, where the power consumption was required to be reduced by 20-40%. Most companies started to lower the operating rates since September 23.

The power rationing will extend until September 30, so the operating rates are expected to decline further next week.