Operating rates across primary lead smelters inch up on week

SHANGHAI, Apr 4 (SMM) – Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces inched up this week as production recovery in Henan offset output decline in Yunnan, showed an SMM survey.

During April 1-4, operating rates across primary lead smelters in the three regions averaged 59%, up 0.3 percentage point from the previous week.

Henan Xinling recovered production from maintenance this week, which bolstered operating rates across the region by 4.2 percentage points to 77.7%.

Primary lead production in Henan is expected to hold steady in April, with no plan for maintenance across smelters in the region.

Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Yunnan dropped 9.2 percentage points to 27.7% this week as Chihong Zinc & Germanium began maintenance.

Rates across smelters in Hunan remained unchanged at 47.7% this week. Most smelters in the area completed maintenance in February and there are no plans yet for maintenance at smelters, such as Jingui and Shuikoushan.