Primary lead smelters operating rates edged higher despite ore shortages

SHANGHAI, Apr 30 (SMM) – Operating rates across primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces averaged 54.4% in the week ended April 30, up 0.6 percentage point from the previous week, showed an SMM survey.

Increased production at Hunan Jingui and Hunan Jinxin accounted for the slight rise in operating rates. Primary lead smelters operations have barely felt the impact of the ore supply shortage in north China. 

The respective rates for the three regions were mostly stable, standing at 65.9% in Henan, 38% in Yunnan, both flat from a week ago, and 45.6% in Hunan, 2.1 percentage points higher on the week.

In May, Henan Yuguang will begin to renew lead ingot production lines, which is estimated to affect lead ingot production by 3,000 mt. Month-long maintenance at Anhui Tongguan and Chifengshan Gold Silver & Lead is expected to impact on a combined output of 13,000 mt. 

There are no maintenance schedule heard so far from other smelters. SMM learned that Mengzi smelter has not arranged overhauls for the upcoming months.