SMM, January 10:
From January 4 to January 10, 2025, the weekly operating rate of secondary lead in four provinces monitored by SMM was 42.44%, a WoW increase of 3.77 percentage points. Large smelters in Anhui resumed production, coupled with production increases at smelters that had previously halted operations due to environmental protection-related controls. This week, the operating rate of secondary lead smelters in Anhui increased by 13.36 percentage points. During the stockpiling phase ahead of the Chinese New Year, raw material inventory levels at smelters in Jiangsu and Henan rose, but production showed no significant changes, and operating rates remained stable. A large smelter in Inner Mongolia reported halting production during the week, with the resumption date yet to be determined; the regional operating rate dropped by 36.57 percentage points.
