AM Statistics: Chinese primary lead smelters' operation rate drops to 55.79% in April
2014-05-08 09:58:38 [Print]
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 8 May 14 - Statistics published by Asian Metal on lead ingot production by the 52 lead smelters in China showed that the lead ingot production of the smelters, with combined annual capacity of 4.74 million tonnes, was 221,100t in April 2014, down by 2.98% month-on-month but up by 16.68% year-on-year. The average operation rate of the lead smelters was 55.97% in April 2014, down from 57.69% in March 2014.
Among the 52 lead smelters, there are 24 large sized producers, each with annual capacity of 100,000t or more, and combined capacity totaling 3.21 million tonnes; Meanwhile, 16 mid-sized lead smelters (capacity between 50,000-100,000tpy) have a total capacity of 1,117,000tpy; and there are 12 lead smelters (below 50,000tpy each) with total capacity of 360,000tpy.
The following table shows average operation rates for lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan province in 2014.
Province |
Smelters |
Total capacity (KT/year) |
Operation rate in April |
Operation rate in March |
Henan |
13 |
1780 |
68.09% |
72.47% |
Hunan |
11 |
950 |
68.21% |
68.46% |
Yunnan |
9 |
605 |
31.34% |
35.31% |
Operation rates for lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan in April 2014
According to the above data, operation rates for lead smelters in Henan and Yunnan provinces declined in April while the rate was almost unchanged in Hunan-based lead producers.
As lead ingot market appeared very sluggish in March, with lead ingot prices lingering at around RMB13,550-13,700/t (USD2,221-2,246/t), Yuguang Gold & Lead and Zhenxing Lead cut production from late March. Meanwhile, some lead smelters halted production for maintenance during April, such as Chengyuan, Chihong Zinc & Germanium and JCC Lead & Zinc. Therefore, lead ingot production and operation rates for lead smelters declined in China during April.
Some lead smelters, including Jiangxi Jinde Lead, Shandong Humon, and Xinling Lead finished maintenance and resumed production during the month and Mengzi Mining and Smelting’s lead smelter which has production capacity of 60,000tpy started operation from late March, leading to an increase in lead ingot production in China.
However, the total lead ingot production in China in April was still lower than in March.
More lead producers will resume normal production in May, so lead ingot production and operation rates may increase gradually in the coming months.
