Weakening consumption lowers operating rates at lead-acid battery producers

SHANGHAI, Nov 19 (SMM) – The average operating rate across lead-acid battery producers across Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei and Hebei fell 0.43 percentage point from a week earlier to 67.18% as of Friday November 16, SMM data showed.

Rates across plants in Jiangxi dipped 0.56 percentage point last week as weakening consumption across end-users eased supply shortages of products with smaller brand recognition, and as some plants completed their backlogged orders.

Equipment replacement at some plants, which is likely to last until the end of November, lowered operating rates across plants in Zhejiang by 0.88 percentage point last week.