[Lead-Acid Battery Production Information] This week, the operating rate of lead-acid battery manufacturers increased, mainly due to some companies completing their month-end inventory checks and an improvement in new vehicle orders. For example, with the implementation of the new e-bike standards, companies with whole-vehicle orders saw an increase in new orders, pushing their operating rates close to full capacity. However, during this period, the replacement demand for e-bikes and cars remained weak, and the substitution of lead-acid batteries by lithium and sodium-ion batteries intensified, affecting sectors such as electric three-wheelers and small household ESS batteries. Additionally, with impending tariff sanctions in the Middle East, orders for lead-acid batteries further declined. Apart from the reduction reflected in the weekly operating rate data, production also decreased in regions like Guangdong, with some companies' operating rates falling below 50%.