SHANGHAI, Oct 19 (SMM) - The secondary crude lead inventory held by secondary lead smelters totalled 30,200 mt in September, an increase of 13,300 mt MoM, while the combined inventory of secondary refined lead and alloy fell 300 mt to 28,400 mt. The inventory of finished secondary lead rose 13,000 mt to 58,600 mt.
The inventory accumulated because the smelters ramped up the production of secondary crude lead to prepare for the follow-up production of refined lead ahead of the National Day holiday. In addition, some smelters built the stocks of lead-acid battery and secondary crude lead in case of sudden pandemic outbreak and transportation controls. In addition, the logistics of finished products stalled during the National Day holiday, resulting in higher in-plant inventory level. The pandemic outbreak in Jieshou city and Taihe county in Anhui province restricted the transportation of secondary refined lead and alloy, which was stockpiled at the smelters. It is not until the pandemic situation in Jieshou city eased recently did the local smelters resumed normal shipment pace.
