Increased logistical costs have raised the physical premiums for lead in the United States over the past week, while an arbitrage window was opening to profitably import zinc into China.
US lead premiums rise on freight cost increaseChina sees zinc imports as arbitrage opensEuropean zinc demand remains sluggish.
US lead premiums rise on freight increase, zinc terms unchanged
The premiums for lead ingots in the US increased over the week to Tuesday September 22 due to rising freight costs and improving demand from automotive battery makers.
Fastmarkets calculated the
lead 99.97% ingot premium, ddp Midwest US, at $0.09-0.10 per lb on Tuesday, rising from the previous range of $0.085-0.095 per lb, where it had stayed since July 21.
The
lead 99.99% ingot premium, delivered Midwest US, was $0.11-0.12 per lb on the same day, up from the previous range of $0.10-0.12 per lb, where it had been since April 21.
A lead producer had...