Operating rates across lead-acid battery producers fall further as seasonal lull continues

SHANGHAI, Apr 28 (SMM) – Operating rates at lead-acid battery producers across Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, and Hebei provinces fell 3.7 percentage points from the previous week and averaged 49.69% in the week through Friday April 26, showed SMM data.

While sales promotion continued across the market amid a seasonal lull, distributors remained cautious about procurement, and this grew inventories of finished goods across lead-acid battery producers. Stocks at some battery producers have exceeded a month.

This prompted battery producers to further scale back operations. Several producers even suspended their production of polar plates.

Operating rates at lead-acid battery producers are expected to continue to fall next week as sluggish consumption across end-markets shuts plants for the Labour Day holiday.

Most plants will close for up to three days, with a handful shutting for up to one week.