Stocks Of Lead At Consumers And Secondary Smelters In The United States, December 31

This table presents the quantities of lead stocks held by consumers and secondary smelters in the United States as of December 31 for the years 2021 and 2022. The data is categorized by different forms of lead, including refined soft lead, antimonial lead, lead in alloys, and lead in copper-base scrap. Tracking these inventories is crucial for understanding the supply dynamics within the domestic lead market, which supports various industrial applications such as battery manufacturing, metal products, and recycling operations. These stock levels influence market stability, pricing, and the ability of industries to respond to fluctuations in lead demand or disruptions in primary supply chains.

Analysis of the data reveals that total lead stocks increased from 61,300 metric tons in 2021 to 66,300 metric tons in 2022, marking an approximate 8% rise. This growth was primarily driven by a significant increase in antimonial lead stocks, which rose from 26,800 to 34,200 metric tons, a gain of nearly 28%. Conversely, stocks of refined soft lead declined by about 6%, from 31,000 to 29,100 metric tons. Lead in alloys also decreased slightly, from 3,570 metric tons (revised) in 2021 to 3,030 metric tons in 2022. Data for lead in copper-base scrap remains withheld to protect proprietary information but is included within the alloys category. The overall upward trend in total lead inventories suggests a buildup of material potentially in response to market conditions or strategic stockpiling by consumers and secondary smelters.