Seasonal lull, new e-bike standards lower operating rates across lead-acid battery producers

SHANGHAI, Apr 19 (SMM) – Operating rates at lead-acid battery producers across Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, and Hebei provinces fell 2.16 percentage points from the previous week and averaged 53.39% in the week through Friday April 19, showed SMM data.

Weaker demand amid a seasonal lull and new national standards for electric bikes prompted distributors to purchase cautiously.

Poorer orders for lead-acid batteries, especially for motive ones, grew inventories of finished goods at producers, and drove them to lower operating rates of production lines or give workers more days off to rein in production.

As the low consumption season continued, some lead-acid battery producers will shut for two days for the weekend, which is likely to further lower operating rates this week.