Secondary Refined Lead Price Follows Spot Lead Ingot Price Downward, Smelter Losses Deepen and Transactions Remain Sluggish [SMM Secondary Refined Lead Weekly Review]

SMM, Jul 3 –

This week, secondary refined lead fell by 200 yuan/mt alongside the SMM #1 lead ingot price. EXW prices for secondary refined lead ranged from parity to a premium of 25 yuan/mt, with delivered cargoes at a highest premium of 100 yuan/mt. Smelters, facing losses, held prices firm and held back from selling, while downstream battery plants made just-in-time procurement during the off-season. The market saw prices but few deals, with sluggish transactions, and significant improvement in trading activity is unlikely in the short term.

As of Jul 3, large-scale secondary lead enterprises in China incurred a loss of 548 yuan/mt, while losses at small and medium-sized secondary smelters widened to 742 yuan/mt. Finished secondary lead prices continued to trend downwards, and scrap battery raw material costs fluctuated at highs. This week, smelters’ losses widened further WoW. Currently, secondary lead smelters’ overall operating rate remains at a low level, and enterprises are awaiting a recovery signal in end-use consumption in July. It is expected that overall secondary lead supply volume next month will be basically flat with this month, and the premium range for secondary refined lead will remain stable in the short term.