LONDON (Scrap Register): Provisional data reported to the ILZSG indicate that world refined lead metal supply exceeded demand by 35 kilo tons during the period January to October 2016. Over the same period total reported stock levels increased by 38kt.
A decrease in global lead mine production of 7.8% compared to the first ten months of 2015 was primarily a result of lower output in Australia, China and India.
A sharp fall in Chinese refined lead metal output was partially balanced by increases in Australia, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Korea and the United States resulting in an overall global reduction of 1.1%.
Usage of refined lead metal increased by a robust 9.8% in Europe driven mainly by increases in Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom. In China, apparent demand fell by 9.8% and in the United States, remained flat.
Chinese imports of lead contained in lead concentrates totaled 614kt, a reduction of 22.4% compared to the first ten months of 2015.
