Report Summary 1. Industry Investment Rating No investment rating information is provided in the report. 2. Core View The report indicates that while the peak season demand for lead is yet to materialize, due to limited supply growth and cost - side support, the lead market is likely to be weak with limited downside potential. Attention should be paid to whether the peak season demand will be realized later [6]. 3. Summary by Relevant Catalogs Fundamental Changes - **Processing Fees**: In June 2025, China's lead ore imports reached 118,026 tons, a 13.54% month - on - month increase, hitting a five - year high. The low levels of domestic and foreign lead concentrate processing fees continued to decline. In July, the domestic monthly processing fee was 400 - 700 yuan/ton, down 50 yuan month - on - month; the imported monthly processing fee was - 60 - - 30 dollars/dry ton, down 15 dollars month - on - month. The domestic weekly lead ore processing fee was 400 - 600 yuan/ton, down 50 yuan/ton week - on - week; the imported weekly processing fee was - 70 - - 40 dollars/dry ton, remaining flat week - on - week [2]. - **Supply**: In June, the national electrolytic lead output was 328,600 tons, a 0.78% month - on - month decrease but a 16.23% year - on - year increase. In July, after maintenance, production recovered, but the tightness of the ore end limited the production increase. The output of secondary lead in June was 228,800 tons, a 2.39% month - on - month increase but a 13.57% year - on - year decrease. The average operating rate of primary lead smelters in three provinces last week decreased by 1.1% to 65.8%. The operating rate of secondary lead increased by 2.4% to 37.9% last week. The import window of lead ingots remained closed [3]. - **Consumption**: The weekly operating rate of SMM lead - acid batteries remained relatively stable. The anti - dumping investigation by the Middle East on China and Indonesia will impose different levels of tariffs on Chinese or Chinese - funded lead - acid battery enterprises, which may drag down the battery export outlook. After the decline in lead prices, downstream purchasing willingness increased, and refineries' inventory decreased rapidly. However, the improvement in downstream battery consumption was limited, and dealers mainly digested inventory, waiting for peak season demand [4]. - **Spot and Inventory**: As of the week ending July 18, the basis of domestic lead spot to the active month rebounded slightly to near par. The LME lead spot remained deeply in contango, with a contango of 24.20 dollars last weekend. As of the week ending July 18, the LME lead weekly inventory increased by 19,025 tons to 268,400 tons, reaching a five - year high; the SHFE lead weekly inventory increased by 7,186 tons to 62,300 tons. As of July 21, the total social inventory of SMM lead ingots in five regions reached 65,800 tons, at a relatively high level in the past three years [5]. Market Outlook and Strategy - The LME lead inventory increased significantly at a high level last week and remained at a five - year high, with the spot in deep contango, indicating a loose supply - demand situation overseas. Although the lead concentrate imports in June increased to a multi - year high, the weekly processing fees of domestic and foreign lead ore remained low, and the supply of lead concentrate remained tight. With the end of production cuts by smelters in Central China, the supply of primary lead may increase slightly later. The willingness to resume production of secondary lead is strong, but the loss situation has not improved, and raw material inventory remains low, so the expected increase in secondary lead is limited. - Currently, the operating rate of the lead - acid battery market remains stable. After the decline in lead prices, downstream purchasing willingness increased, and refineries' inventory decreased rapidly. However, the improvement in downstream battery consumption is limited, dealers are mainly digesting inventory, social inventory is accumulating, and peak season demand is yet to come [6].

Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content provided. Core Viewpoint The primary lead production rate declined slightly, while the secondary lead production rate increased from a low level, maintaining a relatively loose supply of lead ingots. The price of lead-acid batteries stopped falling and stabilized, and with the approaching peak season, the purchasing of downstream battery manufacturers improved slightly. However, according to SMM information, the Middle East will impose anti-dumping duties ranging from 25% to 70% on some Chinese or Chinese-invested lead-acid battery enterprises, which will suppress the consumption expectation of lead ingots to some extent. Overall, the supply and demand of lead ingots are slightly in surplus, and there are deliveries in both domestic and overseas inventories. It is expected that the domestic lead price will run weakly [11]. Summary by Directory 01. Weekly Assessment - Price Review: The Shanghai Lead Index closed up 0.36% at 16,958 yuan/ton on Friday, with a total unilateral trading position of 106,900 lots. As of 15:00 on Friday afternoon, LME Lead 3S fell 2.5 to $2,030.5/ton compared with the same period of the previous day, with a total position of 140,700 lots. The average price of SMM 1 lead ingots was 16,750 yuan/ton, and the average price of secondary refined lead was 16,750 yuan/ton, with a flat price difference between refined and scrap lead. The average price of waste electric vehicle batteries was 10,250 yuan/ton [11]. - Domestic Structure: According to Steelhome data, the domestic social inventory slightly decreased to 65,800 tons. The futures inventory of lead ingots on the Shanghai Futures Exchange was recorded at 60,000 tons, with an internal primary basis of -135 yuan/ton and a spread of -30 yuan/ton between consecutive contracts and the first consecutive contract. Overseas Structure: The LME lead ingot inventory was recorded at 269,300 tons, and the LME lead ingot cancelled warrants were recorded at 70,800 tons. The external cash - 3S contract basis was -$24.27/ton, and the 3 - 15 spread was -$58.2/ton. Cross - Market Structure: After excluding exchange rates, the on - screen Shanghai - London ratio was recorded at 1.17, and the import profit and loss of lead ingots was -834.57 yuan/ton [11]. - Industry Data: At the primary end, the port inventory of lead concentrates was 14,000 tons, and the factory inventory was 439,000 tons, equivalent to 26.4 days. The imported TC of lead concentrates was -$60/dry ton, and the domestic TC was 500 yuan/metal ton. The primary production rate was recorded at 63.37%, and the primary ingot factory inventory was 6,000 tons. At the secondary end, the scrap lead inventory was 89,000 tons, the weekly production of secondary lead ingots was 32,000 tons, and the secondary ingot factory inventory was 10,000 tons. At the demand end, the operating rate of lead - acid batteries was 71.86% [11]. 02. Primary Supply - Import and Production Data: In June 2025, the net import of lead concentrates was 118,000 physical tons, a year - on - year change of 31.7% and a month - on - month change of 13.6%. From January to June, the cumulative net import of lead concentrates was 669,400 physical tons, a cumulative year - on - year change of 37.6%. In June 2025, the net import of silver concentrates was 126,000 physical tons, a year - on - year change of -1.2% and a month - on - month change of -7.5%. From January to June, the cumulative net import of silver concentrates was 847,500 physical tons, a cumulative year - on - year change of 2.6%. In June 2025, China's lead concentrate production was 153,100 metal tons, a year - on - year change of 14.9% and a month - on - month change of 2.5%. From January to June, the total production of lead concentrates was 787,000 metal tons, a cumulative year - on - year change of 13.1%. In June 2025, the net import of lead - containing ores was 121,200 metal tons, a year - on - year change of 15.7% and a month - on - month change of 3.8%. From January to June, the cumulative net import of lead - containing ores was 740,700 metal tons, a cumulative year - on - year change of 19.0% [15][17]. - Total Supply: In June 2025, the total supply of Chinese lead concentrates was 274,300 metal tons, a year - on - year change of 15.3% and a month - on - month change of 3.1%. From January to June, the cumulative supply of lead concentrates was 1,527,700 metal tons, a cumulative year - on - year change of 15.9%. In April 2025, the global lead ore production was 380,100 tons, a year - on - year change of 5.3% and a month - on - month change of 0.0%. From January to April, the total production of lead ore was 1,483,500 tons, a cumulative year - on - year change of 7.2% [19]. - Inventory and Processing Fees: At the primary end, the port inventory of lead concentrates was 14,000 tons, and the factory inventory was 439,000 tons, equivalent to 26.4 days. The imported TC of lead concentrates was -$60/dry ton, and the domestic TC was 500 yuan/metal ton [21][23]. - Smelting Data: The primary production rate was recorded at 63.37%, and the primary ingot factory inventory was 6,000 tons. In June 2025, China's primary lead production was 328,600 tons, a year - on - year change of 16.2% and a month - on - month change of -0.8%. From January to June, the total production of primary lead ingots was 1,884,700 tons, a cumulative year - on - year change of 9.2% [26]. 03. Secondary Supply - Raw Material and Production: At the secondary end, the scrap lead inventory was 89,000 tons. The weekly production of secondary lead ingots was 32,000 tons, and the secondary ingot factory inventory was 10,000 tons. In June 2025, China's secondary lead production was 286,600 tons, a year - on - year change of -13.6% and a month - on - month change of 2.4%. From January to June, the total production of secondary lead ingots was 1,933,700 tons, a cumulative year - on - year change of -0.1% [31][33]. - Import and Total Supply: In June 2025, the net export of lead ingots was -7,200 tons, a year - on - year change of 43.5% and a month - on - month change of -22.1%. From January to June, the cumulative net export of lead ingots was -43,900 tons, a cumulative year - on - year change of 448.2%. In June 2025, the total domestic supply of lead ingots was 622,400 tons, a year - on - year change of 0.5% and a month - on - month change of 0.3%. From January to June, the cumulative domestic supply of lead ingots was 3,862,300 tons, a cumulative year - on - year change of 5.3% [35]. 04. Demand Analysis - Battery Demand: At the demand end, the operating rate of lead - acid batteries was 71.86%. In June 2025, the apparent domestic demand for lead ingots was 624,900 tons, a year - on - year change of 0.0% and a month - on - month change of 4.5%. From January to June, the cumulative apparent domestic demand for lead ingots was 3,826,600 tons, a cumulative year - on - year change of 3.5% [38]. - Battery Export: In June 2025, the net export volume of batteries was 1,825,850 units, and the net export weight was 99,200 tons. It is estimated that the net export of lead in batteries was 62,000 tons, a year - on - year change of -16.9% and a month - on - month change of -5.0%. From January to June, the total net export of lead in batteries was 366,300 tons, and the cumulative net export of lead in batteries increased by -3.1% year - on - year [41]. - Inventory Days: In June 2025, the enterprise finished - product inventory days slightly decreased to 26 days, and the distributor inventory days slightly increased to 39.88 days [44]. - Terminal Demand: In the two - wheeled vehicle sector, although the decline in electric bicycle production directly dragged down the new installation demand, the continuous growth of delivery scenarios such as express delivery and takeaway drove the improvement of the new installation consumption of electric two - and three - wheeled vehicles. In the automobile sector, the contribution of lead demand is expected to maintain stable growth. Although new energy vehicles are gradually replacing lead - acid starting batteries with lithium - iron phosphate starting batteries, the current high vehicle ownership and high replacement demand for existing vehicles support the relatively high operating rate of starting batteries and domestic lead ingot consumption. In the base station sector, the rapid development of communication technology and the increasing number of communication base stations and 5G base stations across the country drive the steady increase in the demand for lead - acid batteries [48][50][53]. 05. Supply - Demand Inventory - Domestic Balance: In June 2025, the domestic supply - demand gap of lead ingots was a shortage of 35,700 tons. From January to June, the cumulative domestic supply - demand gap of lead ingots was a surplus of 0 tons [62]. - Global Balance: In April 2025, the global refined lead supply - demand gap was a surplus of 6,900 tons. From January to April, the cumulative global refined lead supply - demand gap was a surplus of 3,700 tons [65]. 06. Price Outlook - Domestic Structure: According to Steelhome data, the domestic social inventory slightly decreased to 65,800 tons. The futures inventory of lead ingots on the Shanghai Futures Exchange was recorded at 60,000 tons, the internal primary basis was -135 yuan/ton, and the spread between consecutive contracts and the first consecutive contract was -30 yuan/ton [70]. - Overseas Structure: The LME lead ingot inventory was recorded at 269,300 tons, and the LME lead ingot cancelled warrants were recorded at 70,800 tons. The external cash - 3S contract basis was -$24.27/ton, and the 3 - 15 spread was -$58.2/ton [73]. - Cross - Market Structure: After excluding exchange rates, the on - screen Shanghai - London ratio was recorded at 1.17, and the import profit and loss of lead ingots was -834.57 yuan/ton [76]. - Position Analysis: The top 20 net positions of Shanghai Lead turned to net short, the net long positions of LME lead investment funds decreased, and the net short positions of commercial enterprises increased. The position perspective indicates a bearish trend [79].