Usage of lead metal is expected to grow by 9.6% in India predict ILZSG

The International Lead and Zinc Study Group convened web-meetings of its Economic and Environment and Standing Committees as well as a joint meeting of its Statistical and Forecasting Committee and Industry Advisory Panel on 27 and 28 April 2021. From India representative from Federation of Indian Small Scale Battery Associations (FISSBA) and Indian Lead Zinc Development Association (ILZDA) were present.  During the meetings the Group received a review of the current outlook for trends in world supply and demand for lead and zinc during 2021.

Forecasts

Lead - Outlook for 2021

Usage
After declining by a substantial 5.2% in 2020, global demand for refined lead is anticipated to rise by 3.9% this year to 11.97 million tonnes, with usage expected to rise in most countries and regions worldwide, but most notably in Europe, India, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

European usage of lead metal is expected to grow by 7.7%, in India by 9.6%, in Japan by 10.6% and in the Republic of Korea by 12.2%.

In China, a more moderate 0.3% increase in lead demand is forecast for 2021.

Supply

World lead mine production is forecast to rise by 5.1% to 4.75 million tonnes in 2021, principally due to expected increases in Australia, Bolivia, China, Mexico and Peru. In Europe and the US, the supply of lead concentrates is expected to remain stable.

An anticipated increase in world refined lead metal output of 3.3% to 12.07 million tonnes in 2021 will be mainly influenced by rises in Belgium, China, India and the Republic of Korea. In the US, however, output is expected to fall due to the recently announced closure of Clarios’ 100,000 tonne per year secondary smelter in Florence, South Carolina.

World Refined Lead Metal Balance

Having taken into account all of the information recently received from its member countries, the Group anticipates that the global supply of refined lead metal will exceed demand by 96,000 tonnes in 2021.

October 2021 ILZSG Session

The Study Group confirmed that it will hold its 66 th Session from 7 - 8 October 2021. Economic and Environment Issues

The Study Group’s Economic and Environment Committee met on Wednesday 28 April for its 40th meeting. In the Time Zone A session of the meeting, Mr. Lakshmanan Pugazhenty, Executive Director, India Lead Zinc Development Association (ILZDA) submitted a presentation on “The Indian Lead and Zinc Industry During COVID 19 Days”. Ms. Cindy Xia, Manager of Lead and Zinc Department, Beijing Antaike Information Development Co. Ltd, China, reviewed in detail the “Prospects of China’s Lead and Zinc Sector under the New Pattern-COVID 19 and Carbon Emission Peak”. Mr. Brian Wilson, MRSC, Consultant to the International Lead Association (ILA) discussed “Best Available Technologies and Environmental Practices for the Recycling of Used Lead-Acid
Batteries”. During the Time Zone B session of the meeting, Mr. Huw Roberts, Director, CHR Metals Ltd, UK, assessed “Trends in European Industrial Activity and the Implications for Lead and Zinc”. Mr. Robin Bhar, Consultant RBMC, London then analyzed the “Impact of the COVID19 Pandemic on the Base Metals Markets”. Mr. Joseph Pickard, Chief Economist and Director of Commodities, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), US, provided his observations on “How the Base Metals Scrap Market has been Affected by the Pandemic”.

New Publications

ILZSG has recently published the following studies that are available from the secretariat:
• Lead and Zinc New Mine and Smelter Projects 2021
• Report on “Lead and Zinc: National Trade Tariffs and Measures” 2021
• World Zinc Factbook
• World Lead Factbook Studies that are scheduled to be published later in 2021 include:
• World Directory of Continuous Galvanizing Plants
• World Directory of Lead and Zinc Mines
• World Directory of Primary and Secondary Lead Plants
• World Directory of Primary and Secondary Zinc Plants
• Likely Future Trends in China’s Economic Development and their Implications for Chinese Lead and Zinc Demand