SMM April 20 Automotive Battery Market Summary [SMM Evening News]

SMM April 20 news: Dealers in Jiangxi reported that end-use consumption in the automotive battery market remained sluggish, while raw material costs such as lead ingots rose. Battery manufacturers had yet to implement sales promotions on batteries, and retailers were cautious in purchasing, with current battery inventory exceeding one and a half months. Manufacturers in Zhejiang reported that replacement demand in the automotive battery market weakened, with dealers only purchasing as needed. Finished product orders further declined, and to ease inventory pressure, factory operating rates were currently around 70%. Manufacturers in Anhui reported that the automotive battery market was in the consumption off-season. Meanwhile, the SHFE/LME price ratio for lead widened, and domestic lead-acid battery production costs in China were far higher than those in markets outside China. Compounded by the geopolitical impact in the Middle East, battery exports continued to suffer setbacks, with factory operating rates currently at 70-80%.