Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant information provided. Core Viewpoints of the Report - Based on the judgment that the lead market will maintain a situation of strong supply and weak demand in 2026, prices are expected to fluctuate within a range. The main operating range for Shanghai lead is 16,000 - 18,000 yuan/ton, and for London lead, it is 1,900 - 2,100 US dollars/ton [1][67]. - In 2026, the domestic market may have a slight surplus. The supply of lead ore is expected to improve, the supply of waste batteries may increase slightly, and the production of refined lead will continue to grow. The demand side may be supported by the continued replacement consumption and the positive growth of two - wheeled electric vehicles. The energy storage demand is growing explosively, and the incremental space for lead - carbon batteries is broad. However, the export of lead - acid batteries may face pressure, and the overall supply - demand situation is weak, with prices remaining range - bound. The price - holding intention in the waste battery recycling sector is strengthening year by year, which is expected to continuously lift the bottom of the lead price [1][67]. - It is recommended to pay attention to seasonal fluctuation opportunities. After the small spring of consumption at the beginning of the year, consumption weakens marginally, and prices may fall under pressure. In the middle of the year, battery manufacturers replenish stocks in advance for the consumption peak season, while the supply of waste batteries does not increase significantly during the replacement consumption peak season, which may bring a temporary supply - demand gap and inject upward momentum into prices [2][67]. Summary by Directory 1. 2025 Review: First Decline then Rise, with a Slow Uptrend in the Center of Gravity - In January 2025, the lead price declined due to the end of downstream inventory preparation, high finished - product inventory, and a potentially longer Spring Festival holiday. In February, the price rose initially but then fluctuated after factoring in the expected production increase of large downstream manufacturers. In March, the price increased as consumption recovered and downstream battery companies increased inventory. In April, it declined due to macro - tariff impacts and the entry into the consumption off - season. In May and June, prices fluctuated in a weak supply - demand situation [7]. - From July to December, the lead price showed a complex trend. In July, it first rose and then fell due to changes in supply and demand. In August, it fluctuated weakly. In September, it rose after a period of fluctuation. In October, it trended strongly with obvious supply pressure on primary lead and incremental demand. In November, it climbed and then declined as primary lead production increased and secondary lead production grew rapidly [8][9]. 2. Supply - Demand Weakness, with Dull Fundamental Contradictions 2.1 Lead Ore Supply is Rigid, but There Will Be Increment in the Next Year - In the long - term, overseas mining enterprises' capital expenditure in lead ore has been low, resulting in relatively rigid global lead ore production. The supply cycle of lead ore is more closely related to that of zinc ore. In 2025, global lead ore supply disturbances increased, and overseas production increments were limited. For 2026, there is an expected increment of 100,000 tons, with a year - on - year growth rate of 2.2% [10][13][14]. 2.2 Domestic Mines Increased Production This Year, but Realistic Contradictions Still Exist - In 2025, from January to November, China's lead concentrate production increased by 10.4% year - on - year, mainly due to the production increase of mines such as Xinjiang Huoshaoyun. It is expected to contribute an increment of 100,000 tons in 2026. The continuous tight supply of lead concentrate has squeezed the profit margin of primary lead smelting. China's lead raw material import structure is becoming more diversified, but the import profit of lead concentrate is meager [20][26]. 2.3 Insufficient Endogenous Power, Driven by By - Product Profits - Since March 2025, the thickening of primary lead plant profits has driven high - level production. By - product profits such as silver and sulfuric acid have become the main factors driving the supply elasticity of primary lead plants. Assuming that the prices of by - products remain high in 2026, primary lead supply is expected to continue to grow slightly, and supply elasticity may increase [33][34]. 2.4 Problems in Secondary Lead Supply Still Exist, Forming a Strong Constraint - China's secondary lead production capacity is severely over - supplied, and the shortage of raw materials has led to low - level production. Since the second quarter, secondary lead enterprises have suffered losses, and it is expected that the production of secondary lead will continue to decline in 2026. Although there will be more incremental supply in the long - term, the growth rate of capacity expansion may slow down, and some enterprises are transforming to a multi - raw material production mode [36][37]. 3. Is the Demand Really Collapsing: A Flash in the Pan or a Steady Stream? 3.1 Policy Boosts Consumption, Electric Bicycles Return to Positive Growth, and Automobile Exports Contribute Significantly - In 2025, new national standards and national subsidy policies have stimulated the growth of the electric bicycle industry. Automobile consumption policies have also continuously increased, and the trade - in policy has effectively boosted consumption. It is expected that the trade - in subsidy scale will continue to be maintained at 300 billion yuan in 2026 [46][52][53]. 3.2 Explosive Growth in Energy Storage Demand, Vast Incremental Space in the Future - The energy storage demand for lead - acid/lead - carbon batteries is growing explosively. Lead - acid batteries have cost, safety, recycling, and low - temperature performance advantages, but also have performance shortcomings. In 2025, the lead consumption of lead - carbon batteries was 27,300 tons in the first three quarters, and it is expected to increase by 28,300 tons in 2026, with a marginal contribution to consumption of 0.4% [60][61]. 3.3 High Domestic - Foreign Price Ratio and Tariff Impacts Weigh on Lead - Acid Battery Exports - In 2025, the export volume of lead - acid batteries declined rapidly due to the expansion of the domestic - foreign price ratio and tariff impacts. The anti - dumping tariff imposed by the GCC on Chinese lead - acid batteries will take effect in 2026, which may significantly reduce the export volume [64]. 4. Conclusion and Investment Outlook - In 2026, the lead market will maintain a situation of weak supply and demand, with prices fluctuating within a range. The main operating range for Shanghai lead is 16,000 - 18,000 yuan/ton, and for London lead, it is 1,900 - 2,100 US dollars/ton. It is recommended to pay attention to seasonal fluctuation opportunities [67].
2026年铅期货年度行情展望:供需双弱,上下有限
Guo Tai Jun An Qi Huo·2025-12-19 09:59