Secondary lead smelters operating rates dropped 1.3% this week

SHANGHAI, Jan 29 (SMM) — Operating rates across licensed smelters of secondary lead in Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan and Guizhou averaged 46.2% in the week, down 1.3 percentage points from the previous week, an SMM survey showed.

The average operating rates remained unchanged on the week at 47.1%, 70.2%, and 33.3% in Anhui, Henan and Jiangsu respectively.

The operating rate in Guizhou dropped 7.3 percentage points on the week to 37.8%, mainly due to Yongxin’s production suspension for holiday.

The alert for the heavy air pollution in Henan was lifted this week. Xincheng Power, Jinhui and other smelters resumed production, but Hebei Shichang and Henan Jiayi suspended production for holidays. Guizhou Dingxin and Cenxiang will enter the holiday next week, and Guizhou Huoqilin will also stop the refining production line. The operating rates are expected to drop further next week.