Weekly lead-acid battery operating rate inches up as smog alerts lifted

SHANGHAI, Oct 11 (SMM) – Operating rates across lead-acid battery producers in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, and Hebei provinces averaged 57.84% during October 8-11, showed an SMM survey, up 0.48 percentage point from the week ending September 27.

Some producers reined in production before October 1, when China would mark its 70th founding anniversary with a military parade. Authorities imposed curbs on production and transport to minimise potential disruptions.

Those producers recovered their production after the National Day holiday and also as alerts for heavy air pollution were lifted across regions including Henan and Hebei at start of October.

A sustained period of air pollution hit northern regions late September, which prompted local authorities to issue smog alerts and impose stricter curbs on pollutant sources.

While battery producers maintained stable production, demand is likely to weaken as a traditional high season for electric bike batteries is drawing to a close and also regions like Hubei step up efforts to regulate electric bikes.

Battery producers have yet to see substantial growth in their inventories of finished goods, and will adjust production based on orders.