Operating rate at secondary lead smelters down 3.98 percentage points in May

SHANGHAI, Jun 13 (SMM) – The operating rate across China's secondary lead smelters stood at 59.9% in May, down 3.98 percentage points from April, but up 24.6 percentage points from last year, SMM surveyed. 

Stricter environmental probes by the central government from May accounted for the month on month decline. Most unlicensed small smelters were ordered to shut, and some qualified, large smelters saw their output affected by environmental cuts, SMM learned. 

China’s output of secondary lead registered 100,900 mt in May, down 6,700 mt from April and up 41,400 mt from last year, SMM data showed. 

Operating rates across secondary lead smelters in June is likely to remain flat from May as environmental inspections continue, SMM expects. 

Separately, the operating rate across China's primary lead smelters in May gained 2.1 percentage points from April and stood at 59.7%, SMM surveyed.

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