Lead prices consolidated this week, with the discount for secondary refined lead narrowing. [SMM Weekly Review of the Refined Lead Spot Market]

In the spot market, refined lead prices consolidated this week (April 12-18, 2025), with prices strengthening on Friday. Suppliers in Henan offered quotes around parity against SMM #1 lead, with a discount of 50 yuan/mt against SHFE lead 2505. Smelters in Hunan maintained a slight premium of 25-50 yuan/mt against SMM #1 lead, while some traders sold spot cargo at a discount of 50-0 yuan/mt against SMM #1 lead mid-week. In Yunnan, primary lead was quoted at a discount of 160-180 yuan/mt against SMM #1 lead. This week coincided with the delivery of SHFE lead 2504 contract, leading to reduced spot market supply, with some traders holding back premium offers. As mid-to-late April gradually entered the traditional consumption off-season, downstream lead-acid battery stocking enthusiasm slightly declined, resulting in overall weak market transactions. In the secondary refined lead segment, suppliers' reluctance to sell due to losses did not significantly improve, though the discount in refined lead offers narrowed slightly. By the weekend, mainstream ex-factory prices of secondary refined lead were at a discount of 75-0 yuan/mt against the SMM #1 lead average price, with overall weak market transactions. Click to view the SMM metal industry chain database.