China imported 176,600 tonnes of lead concentrate in October, holding high at the second highest this year, albeit a 13.01% drop from September, China Customs data indicate.
Lead concentrate supply in China has been tight this year, turning lead smelters to overseas market.
The National Bureau of Statistics reported a 9.27% decline in China’s lead concentrate output in October, which aggravated concentrate shortages.
Demand for the raw material started rising in September as some smelters built stocks for winter production.