SMM News, Mar 13: This week, the recycling volume of waste lead-acid battery recyclers rebounded significantly WoW, with the recycling volume of some recyclers rising 40% from the initial stage of work resumption. However, affected by downstream consumption not yet having fully recovered and a relatively low volume of retired scrap battery, some enterprises still saw recycling volume that had not returned to pre-holiday levels. As secondary lead smelters resumed work at a relatively slow pace and demand for scrap battery had not yet surged, SMM expected the purchase prices of waste lead-acid battery to stabilize next week. Domestic secondary crude lead smelters posted a poor operating rate, with some enterprises suspending production due to environmental protection-related controls. Suppliers held firm offers, and the current mainstream ex-factory prices excluding tax stood at 15,250-15,400 yuan/mt. If containing some antimony and tin metals, ex-factory offers were at least 15,500 yuan/mt. At present, imported lead supply was ample, and suppliers had relatively weak bargaining power, giving downstream enterprises near ports a greater advantage in purchases. SMM expected domestic secondary crude lead supply to remain tight in the short term, with imports serving as the main supplement. » Subscribe to View Historical SMM Metal Spot Prices

With the Chinese New Year holiday falling in mid-February and weak end-use consumption, lead-acid battery producers scaled back pre-holiday stockpiling compared with previous years. The sluggish sales of lead ingots intensified finished product inventory pressure on secondary lead smelters. According to SMM, enterprises suspending production during the holiday started their breaks one week earlier YoY. Coupled with three fewer calendar days in February compared with January, secondary lead ……

[SMM Flash News] Lead prices fluctuate downward, and waste lead-acid battery recyclers are concerned that smelters will lower their raw material purchase offers, so they have a strong willingness to sell. Some smelters in east China indicated that the arrivals of raw materials have improved today.

[SMM Flash News] Lead prices fluctuate downward, and waste lead-acid battery recyclers are concerned that smelters will lower their raw material purchase offers, so they have a strong willingness to sell. Some smelters in east China indicated that the arrivals of raw materials have improved today.

The end-use consumption of lead-acid batteries is the lifeblood of the entire lead industry chain. Currently, weak downstream consumption has led to a low replacement rate of new and old batteries and a small volume of scrap batteries in the market. According to waste lead-acid battery recyclers, the collection volume at storefronts is low, and there is a strong reluctance to sell, resulting in increasing pressure on procurement recently. Some recyclers have even stated that their daily turnover is less than 50% of previous years. Tight supply of raw materials has constrained the production of smelters.

【SMM News】The prices of waste lead-acid batteries have been rising consecutively, and the supply in the hands of recyclers is also limited. The sentiment of expecting higher prices and being reluctant to sell is even more pronounced at the retail end. The vicious cycle is hard to break. Secondary lead smelters are forced to continue raising prices and eventually have to reduce production due to the pressure of losses.

SMM Lead Morning Meeting Summary: Spot Market Quotations for Lead Ingots Are Scarce, Downstream Enterprises Maintain Rigid Demand and Cautious Procurement. Recently, the center of lead prices has significantly shifted downward, and secondary lead smelters are under considerable cost pressure, with the possibility of further reductions in raw material quotations. Waste lead-acid battery recyclers are hesitant to sell due to price declines, and some smelters have reported improved arrivals.

[SMM News Flash] The Impact of the Chinese New Year Holiday on the Lead Market Is Gradually Increasing. Scrap lead-acid battery recyclers report that some stores have already ceased selling used batteries. Meanwhile, secondary lead smelters are in the raw material inventory stockpiling phase. However, the current inventory remains ample, so the supply-demand imbalance has not become significantly pronounced.