End-Use Consumption Showed No Improvement, Decline in Lead-Acid Battery Enterprises' Operating Rates Widened [SMM Lead-Acid Battery Weekly Operating Rate Comment]

According to SMM survey, during July 24-30, 2026, the weekly comprehensive operating rate of lead-acid battery enterprises across five provinces was 60.31%, down 2.24 percentage points WoW.

The operating rate of lead-acid battery enterprises continued to decline this week. Affected by high-temperature holidays and month-end inventory-related production cuts, the decline in the operating rate widened further compared to last week. Approaching August, although the traditional peak consumption season is about to begin, consumption in the end-use markets for e-bike and automobile batteries showed no improvement. Lead-acid battery enterprises remained cautious in production, with most maintaining a strategy of producing based on sales. In addition, while the high-temperature holidays for some enterprises are about to end next week, others plan to start their holidays in early August. As a result, the room for a rebound in the operating rate of lead-acid battery enterprises next week is expected to be limited.