The global market of lead made 74 000 tonnes in January-April
According to the International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG), refined lead market was characterized by the surplus of 74 tons in the first 4 months of 2011 – after a sharp rise in production in Australia, China and Germany, which outpaced the growth of demand for the metal.
World production of lead was increased by 14%, while world consumption of metal – by 12.3%.
Extraction of lead was increased by 11% during the specified period due to higher volume production in China, India and Mexico, which more than offset the decline in production of this metal in Peru and the United States, according to a monthly report of ILZSG, in January-April the volume of world lead production totaled 3.316 million.
Consumption was 3.242 million tons. Growth in demand for refined lead has slowed, said ILZSG.
In the same period last year, the surplus in the market of refined lead was 23 thousand tons.
In Western countries, the excess of lead was at the level of 9,000 tons in January-April, with production volume – 1,700 million tonnes and 1.691 million tons demand.