WHAT IS IT?
Lead (Pb) is a dense, soft, bluish-grey metal with a low melting point (327°C). It is one of the oldest metals used by humans. Today, approximately 85% of lead consumption is for lead-acid batteries — the same technology that starts your car every morning.
FORMS
Primary Lead: Refined from lead ore concentrate. 99.97%+ purity.
Secondary Lead: Recycled from used batteries. Accounts for ~60% of total lead supply globally — the most recycled major metal by percentage.
Lead Alloys: Lead-antimony (battery grids), lead-calcium (maintenance-free batteries), lead-tin (solders).
LEAD-ACID BATTERY DOMINANCE
Despite competition from lithium-ion, lead-acid batteries remain dominant for:
Automotive starter batteries (every ICE vehicle)
Industrial UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)
Forklift batteries
Telecom tower backup power
E-bikes in China and Southeast Asia
Li-ion has replaced lead-acid in consumer electronics and is growing in EVs, but lead-acid holds its own in starting/lighting/ignition applications due to low cost and established recycling.
RECYCLING
Lead has the highest recycling rate of any commercial metal — 95%+ in developed markets. Used battery collection and smelting is a well-established industry. Secondary smelters process batteries, reclaim lead, and recycle the acid.
KEY USES
Lead-acid batteries (85%)
Radiation shielding (X-ray rooms, nuclear)
Ballast weights
Lead sheet for soundproofing and roofing
Cable sheathing
TRADE CORRIDORS
Major producers: China, Australia, USA, India, Mexico
Major buyers: USA, Europe, China, Southeast Asia, India
Tetra relevance: Regional demand from Southeast Asia battery manufacturing.
PRICING BASIS
Benchmark: LME Lead (USD/MT).
SPECIFICATIONS (Refined Lead 99.97%)
Lead: min 99.97%
Bismuth: max 0.015%
Silver: max 0.005%
Antimony: max 0.002%
25kg ingots, stacked in 1MT bundles