LONDON (Scrap Register): Global demand for refined lead metal is forecast to rise by 5% to 11.70 million tons this year and a further 0.9% to 11.82 million tonnes in 2018, according to International Lead and Zinc Study Group.
In 2017, the rise will be driven primarily by forecast growth in Chinese apparent usage of 11.3% which has been partially influenced by a rise in the use of three-wheeled e-trikes that has more than offset reductions in the e-bike sector as consequence of increased penetration by lithium-ion batteries.
It is anticipated that European usage will rise by 2.2% in 2017 but remain flat in 2018. In the United States, increases of 1.1% and 1.8% are predicted in 2017 and 2018 respectively.