Scrap Battery Recyclers' Shipment Enthusiasm Improved, Secondary Crude Lead Prices Remained High [SMM Scrap Battery & Secondary Crude Lead Weekly Review]

SMM August 29:

Lead prices weakened, expanding losses at secondary lead smelters and prompting further production cuts and suspensions, which simultaneously reduced scrap battery demand. Recyclers, concerned about further price declines, showed stronger willingness to sell. Coupled with some smelters scaling back purchases and supply diversion, some companies reported signs of improved scrap battery arrivals. After the military parade concludes next Wednesday, scrap recycling operations in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei are expected to gradually resume from Thursday, with scrap battery arrivals at northern smelters likely to rebound. Currently, mainstream smelters' tax-inclusive procurement prices for e-bike lead-acid battery scrap remain stable at 10,050-10,200 yuan/mt.

Domestic secondary crude lead smelters operated at low rates, though some large secondary lead producers maintained low-temperature smelting to produce supplementary low-temperature lead despite halting refined lead lines. Secondary crude lead prices still exceeded secondary refined lead, with current tax-exclusive delivered prices around 15,750 yuan/mt. The weak lead market dampened import inflows, with few market quotations available.

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