Maintenance lowered operating rates at primary lead smelters

SHANGHAI, Jan 17 (SMM) – Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces averaged 55.6% in the week ending January 17, down 4.4 percentage point from the previous week, according to a SMM survey.

The operating rates for Yunnan dropped 12.9 percentage points to 30.8%, as Zhenxing and Gejiu Chuangyuan smelters began routine maintenance.

Yuteng smelter in Hunan also kicked off maintenance this week, lowering the average operating rate across the region by 6.1 percentage points to 46%.

Those smelters are expected to recover after the Chinese New Year holiday, and Yuteng will resume operations on February 3.

The rate for Henan remained unchanged at 70.7%.

Primary lead smelters like Jiangxi Copper’s will scale back operations to holiday levels from next week, and the average operating rates are set to fall further.