SMM July 24 News: This week, the scrap battery market saw sluggish trading, with secondary lead smelters continuing to incur losses. Purchases were cautious, and there was a clear intention to push for lower prices. Currently, battery replacement demand was in the off-season, and recycling sites showed little willingness to stockpile. The speed of scrap battery flow slowed down, and smelters mostly maintained purchases as needed, with few large-scale restocking operations. Looking ahead to next week, the secondary lead operating rate is expected to continue declining, and raw material procurement demand will further contract. The growth in scrap batteries is limited. The scrap battery market lacks an independent upward driver, and its trend follows the fluctuations of lead futures. If lead prices recover, the decline in raw material prices is expected to narrow; if futures weaken, purchase prices will be under pressure. Pay close attention to the trend of lead prices and the implementation of production cuts at smelters.

SMM, July 24 – Expectations for secondary refined lead are diverging between upstream and downstream, and the market direction is unclear. Smelters are becoming cautious in purchasing scrap batteries, leaving limited room for purchase price adjustments. The supply of scrap batteries in the market is tight, and suppliers are unwilling to sell at low prices while waiting for market clarity. Downstream smelters are only restocking to meet rigid demand and have no plans to purchase large quantities of materials for now. Both the supply and demand sides are adopting a wait-and-see approach. In the short term, scrap battery prices are consolidating without clear drivers.

SMM, July 23 – Smelters are offering limited price increases for scrap battery purchases, leaving trading in the recycling market stagnant. Recyclers dare not stockpile at high prices, while scrap battery holders hold back sales in anticipation of higher prices, slowing the pace of shipments. Downstream smelters only make rigid-demand purchases without large-scale restocking. Insufficient demand-side support limits the short-term upside room for scrap battery prices, and the market continues to consolidate.

SMM, July 22 – Secondary lead prices face expectations of a downward adjustment, and market sentiment is weakening. Recyclers are becoming more cautious in purchasing, fearing that a market pullback could cause losses, and dare not collect in large volumes. Available circulating supply in the market is limited, with small collectors and repair shops resisting selling at low prices and holding back from selling while waiting. Downstream smelters are only maintaining just-in-time procurement, with no plans for centralized restocking yet. The supply-demand situation is in a stalemate, scrap battery prices are under pressure in the short term, and the market is consolidating on a subdued note.

SMM July 21 News: The SHFE lead 2609 contract opened at 15,900 yuan/mt, during the morning session it first fell then rose, fluctuated narrowly around the 15,885 yuan/mt level, and finally closed at 15,885 yuan/mt, up 75 yuan from the previous settlement, with an intraday gain of 0.47%. Downstream battery demand was weak in the off-season, capping gains. Secondary lead smelters faced deficits and maintenance, while stable scrap battery prices provided support, resulting in a balanced tug-of-war between longs and shorts. In the short term, SHFE lead will continue to move sideways. Going forward, monitor production resumptions at secondary lead smelters and changes in downstream operations. Data Source Statement: All data except for public information is processed by SMM based on public information, market communication, and SMM's internal database models. This is for reference only and does not constitute any decision-making advice.

SMM July 17 news: This week, scrap battery purchase prices fell sharply alongside lead prices, with recyclers holding inventory and taking a wait-and-see stance, unwilling to sell at low prices. Meanwhile, smelters made only just-in-time procurement of scrap batteries due to weak buying sentiment from downstream battery enterprises, making it difficult to support significant price increases. Looking ahead to next week, attention should be paid to smelter production conditions and their demand for raw materials. If demand remains sluggish, the upside room for scrap battery prices will be very limited.