Operating rates across Chinese lead concentrate producers to jump in Sep

SHANGHAI, Sep 19 (SMM) – Average operating rate across producers of lead concentrate in China is likely to jump 5.8 percentage points from August to 81.4% in September, bolstered by sharp increases at large and medium-sized producers, SMM research found.

Rates across large miners with annual capacity above 10,000 mt are expected to grow 6.1 percentage points as those in the north-west would step up production during the traditional busy season in July-September.

Rates across medium-sized producers with annual capacity at 5,000-10,000 mt are estimated to increase 7.2 percentage points as those in Sichuan and Guizhou provinces would recover output from the rainy season.

Operation of the beneficiation plant at one miner in Qinghai has recovered and this helped the miner to recover its output.

One miner in Xinjiang has returned to normal operation after it suspended operation for about two weeks in the falling market in August.