【SMM Express】As the Labour Day holiday approaches, downstream battery producers are consciously preparing raw material inventories. Although large-scale procurement has not yet occurred, the overall market activity is expected to improve. Lead prices maintain a fluctuating trend, while scrap battery prices continue to rise firmly. As of April 18, 2025, the comprehensive theoretical profit and loss value for large-scale secondary lead producers was -435 yuan/mt, and for small and medium-scale secondary lead producers, it was -657 yuan/mt. Secondary lead smelters are under significant operational pressure, and the number of smelters cutting production may increase next week.