Sluggish Arrivals of Scrap Batteries Lead to Widespread Production Cuts and Suspensions at Secondary Lead Enterprises [SMM Weekly Review on Scrap Batteries & Secondary Crude Lead]

SMM May 9 report:

The volume of waste lead-acid battery scrap is low, with limited collection at storefronts. Recyclers are facing significant purchasing pressure and intense competition among peers. The procurement quotes from secondary lead smelters remain high, yet arrivals are still sluggish. Currently, the market price for tax-excluded waste e-bike lead-acid battery scrap ranges from 9,900 to 10,100 yuan/mt.

With tight raw material supply and high costs, secondary lead smelters are under significant operational pressure, leading to widespread production cuts and suspensions. The supply of secondary crude lead is tight, and undersupply has caused prices in some regions to invert compared to secondary refined lead. As of May 9, 2025, the tax-excluded price for secondary crude lead ranges from 15,600 to 15,800 yuan/mt, while the tax-excluded ex-factory price for refined lead ranges from 15,650 to 15,850 yuan/mt.

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