Copper Rebounds as U.S. Data Outweighs China Production Concern

SHANGHAI, Aug. 27 -- China's Henan and Hunan provinces, the country's two largest lead-making regions, have stepped up inspections of metal producers, China Business News reported.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A few small lead smelters with annual capacity of 20,000 metric tons to 30,000 tons have been ordered to shut in western Hunan, the Chinese-language paper said, citing an unnamed official from the provincial government. The Henan government pledged to close producers that operate without government approval and to move those that pose risks to the surrounding environment, the paper said, citing unidentified officials. It didn't say whether any Henan plants had been closed.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; China had around 2.1 million tons of outdated lead-making capacity at the end of 2008, of which the government aims to eliminate 600,000 tons this year, according to an industry stimulus plan issued early this year, the paper said.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (Source: Bloomberg)
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