China's lead, zinc output to increase 15 percent in 2010
Shanghai. September. 13 INTERFAX-CHINA - China's lead output in 2010 is expected to total over 4 million tons, an increase of approximately 15 percent year-on-year, a China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNMIA) official said at the 2010 Shanghai Lead Zinc Summit Meeting held Sept. 11.
Zinc output in 2010, meanwhile, will reach around 4.95 million to 5 million tons, an increase of between 14 and 15 percent year-on-year, according to director of the CNMIA's lead and zinc department, Zhao Cuiqing.
Zhao noted that demand for zinc will increase steadily in the future, but inventories remain large at present and will take time to significantly decrease. He added that production capacity for lead will increase, despite a predicted weak market demand.
According to Zhao, China's lead and zinc output witnessed a substantial increase in the first seven months of the year. The use of secondary lead in the production of refined lead also increased.
China's lead and zinc industry is set to undergo economic restructuring in the future, with lead and zinc bases expected to carry out more technical upgrades and establish stable raw material supply chains.
A number of small and mid-sized iron ore miners in China are also currently preparing to enter the international market.
-XH