Secondary lead smelters operating rates expanded to 50%

SHANGHAI, Apr 10 (SMM) – Operating rates across licensed smelters of secondary lead in Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan and Guizhou continued to increase, rising 9.2 percentage points from the prior week to 49.6% in the week ended April 10, showed an SMM survey. The increase in production, however, remained capped due to battery scrap supply issue.

The average operating rate in Jiangsu climbed 20 percentage points on the week to 53.3%, as Jiangsu New Chunxing boosted production on the eased shortage of feedstock scrap.

Henan Xinxiang Huarui restarted operations, and this lifted the average operating rate in Henan by 2.8 percentage points on the week to 45.5%.

The average rate in Anhui rose 9.1 percentage points to 40% as Anhui Huabo reached full capacity after raising production.

Secondary lead smelters in Guizhou operated at an average rate of 65.1% this week, flat from a week ago.