SMM, February 28:
At the beginning of the week, SHFE lead prices slightly declined, and scrap battery recyclers were reluctant to sell due to fears of falling prices. According to smelters in major secondary lead production areas, scrap battery arrivals were moderate this week, with some plants even experiencing inventory surpluses. In the latter half of the week, as more secondary lead production facilities resumed operations, raw material demand increased, prompting some companies to raise their purchase prices on Friday. As of February 28, 2025, the mainstream tax-inclusive purchase price for scrap EV batteries ranged from 9,950-10,150 yuan/mt.
During the week, secondary crude lead smelters provided few price quotes, with most companies indicating they were still fulfilling previous orders, and spot order availability remained tight. Downstream alloy smelters saw robust demand, and suppliers' ex-factory tax-exclusive quotes during the week ranged from 15,750-15,900 yuan/mt.
