AM Statistics: Chinese primary lead ingot output declines by 63.5kt in Q3 on maintenance at lead smelters
2015-09-30 10:09:28 [Print]
The following table shows the details about the 8 primary lead smelters which carried out maintenance during the third quarter.
Unit: tonne
Company |
Starting time of maintenance |
Maintenance duration |
Monthly output before maintenance |
Decline in output in Q3 |
Annual capacity |
Haicheng Chengxin |
Late August |
1 month |
7500 |
7500 |
100000 |
Huludao Zinc |
Early September |
1 month |
1500 |
2300 |
30000 |
Hanzhong Zinc |
Late March |
6 months |
4000 |
12000 |
60000 |
Jiyuan Wanyang |
Late August |
1 month |
23000 |
11000 |
250000 |
Zhuzhou Smelter |
Late June |
1 month |
6000 |
6000 |
100000 |
Jingui Silver |
Late June |
1 month |
8000 |
4000 |
150000 |
Chihong Zinc & Germanium |
Early April |
6 months |
8500 |
25500 |
100000 |
Cangwu Nonferrous |
Early August |
1 month |
5000 |
4000 |
60000 |
Total |
63500 |
72300 |
850000 |
July and August are the traditional slack season for lead ingot and lead acid battery market, so some lead smelters preferred to halt production for maintenance during the summer season. Many lead smelters in Hunan were out of production during May and June, so lead ingot supply was somewhat tight on the southern market. However, most the smelters in Hunan resumed production during July.
According to Asian Metal’s statistics, almost 80% of the Chinese primary lead smelters have finished their regular maintenances by the end of the third quarter. Few lead smelters have plans to carry out maintenance during the fourth quarter. With the lead concentrate supply increasing and lead treatment charges heading up on the Chinese market, primary lead ingot output may continue to rise during the fourth quarter.
