Lead Ingot Supply and Demand Both Increase, Lead Prices Fluctuate Upward [SMM Lead Morning Comment]

Published: Oct 21, 2024 09:36
Source: SMM
Last Friday, LME lead opened at $2,069/mt.

Last Friday, LME lead opened at $2,069/mt. During the Asian session, the market was quiet, and LME lead consolidated between $2,060-2,070/mt. Entering the European session, the trading range shifted upward to $2,070-2,080/mt, maintaining a box-shaped fluctuation throughout the day, and finally closed at $2,070/mt, up 0.07%.

Last Friday, the most-traded SHFE lead 2411 contract opened at 16,805 yuan/mt. During the session, there was a stalemate between bulls and bears, and SHFE lead fluctuated upward, mostly oscillating between 16,700-16,800 yuan/mt, and finally closed at 16,800 yuan/mt, up 0.93%. The open interest was 34,492 lots, a decrease of 1,524 lots from the previous trading day.

Macro side, China's Q3 GDP was 4.6%, and September retail sales of consumer goods accelerated by 3.2% YoY, with industrial output above designated size increasing by 5.4%. The PBOC officially launched the Securities, Fund, and Insurance Company Swap Facility (SFISF), with the first batch amounting to 500 billion yuan. It has approved 20 securities and fund companies, with the first batch application exceeding 200 billion yuan.

Fundamentally, after the completion of the SHFE lead 2410 contract delivery last week, visible lead ingot inventory increased as expected, with social inventory rising to a nearly five-month high. Meanwhile, lead consumption has shown a phased recovery, providing certain conditions for subsequent lead ingot destocking. Additionally, it is worth noting that the resumption of production by secondary lead smelters has increased, which will limit the space for lead ingot destocking.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM‘s internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn
For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn
Related News
Lead Prices Stagnant, Smelters Maintain Firm Offers Amid Losses
Feb 6, 2026 19:50
Lead Prices Stagnant, Smelters Maintain Firm Offers Amid Losses
Read More
Lead Prices Stagnant, Smelters Maintain Firm Offers Amid Losses
Lead Prices Stagnant, Smelters Maintain Firm Offers Amid Losses
Lead prices were in the doldrums, while secondary lead smelters maintained firm offers due to losses. The mainstream spot order ex-factory prices including tax narrowed the discount to the SMM #1 lead average price by 100 yuan/mt, shifting to a premium of 0–25 yuan/mt, with some smelters halting offers and sales.
Feb 6, 2026 19:50
"Domestic Secondary Crude Lead Market Slows as Holidays Approach, Smelters Halt Production"
Feb 6, 2026 19:49
"Domestic Secondary Crude Lead Market Slows as Holidays Approach, Smelters Halt Production"
Read More
"Domestic Secondary Crude Lead Market Slows as Holidays Approach, Smelters Halt Production"
"Domestic Secondary Crude Lead Market Slows as Holidays Approach, Smelters Halt Production"
Pre-holiday stockpiling by downstream enterprises had largely concluded, and a few had already entered the holiday period, completely suspending procurement. Next week, secondary lead smelters will enter a concentrated wave of production halts and holidays, resulting in sluggish trading activity in the spot market. Offers for spot refined lead orders were sparse, with prices moving in line with the market.
Feb 6, 2026 19:49
Sluggish Transactions in Domestic Secondary Crude Lead Market, Prices at 15,250-15,400 Yuan/mt
Feb 6, 2026 19:48
Sluggish Transactions in Domestic Secondary Crude Lead Market, Prices at 15,250-15,400 Yuan/mt
Read More
Sluggish Transactions in Domestic Secondary Crude Lead Market, Prices at 15,250-15,400 Yuan/mt
Sluggish Transactions in Domestic Secondary Crude Lead Market, Prices at 15,250-15,400 Yuan/mt
The domestic secondary crude lead market experienced sluggish transactions. As of February 6, 2026, the ex-factory tax-exclusive offers for domestic secondary crude lead stood at 15,250-15,400 yuan/mt. Downstream refined lead and alloy smelters gradually entered the holiday period, showing weak stockpiling willingness. Overseas lead ingot suppliers basically halted transactions with China due to poor consumption in the Chinese market, with only some previously concluded shipments maintaining normal in-transit transportation. The trading atmosphere in the secondary crude lead market will continue to weaken next week.
Feb 6, 2026 19:48