Characteristics of Lead
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Lead is a very corrosion-resistant, dense, ductile, and
malleable blue-gray metal that has been used for at least 5,000 years.
Early uses of lead included building materials, pigments for glazing
ceramics, and pipes for transporting water. Today's major use of lead is in
lead-acid storage batteries. The electrical systems of vehicles, ships, and
aircraft depend on such batteries for startup, and, in some cases,
batteries provide the actual motive power. It is also for soundproofing in
office buildings, schools, and hotels. It is widely used in hospitals to
block X-ray and gamma radiation and is employed to shield against nuclear
radiation both in permanent installations and when nuclear material is
being transported. .
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Supply & Demand Scenario
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Domestic Scenario
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- Lead production
equalled approximately 82,000 tonnes in 2004, mostly from secondary
sources.
- The main constraint
in lead production in the country is the lack of lead ore reserves,
which necessitates large-scale imports and recycling.
- Lead demand in India
was estimated at 150,000 tonnes for 2004. Due to huge gap in
demand-supply, India imported nearly about 50% of its domestic demand.
- The major suppliers
for the imports were China, the Republic of Korea and Australia: 54%,
15% and 10% respectively.
- The domestic
industry is characterized by the presence of only a few players in the
primary segment. The primary lead industry in India is divided between
the following main players: Binani Industries Limited and Sterlite
Industries (India) Ltd. (Hndustan Zinc Ltd.). Due to increasing use of
lead in domestic market both players are expanding their smelting
capacities for lead.
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World Scenario
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- USA, Japan, China,
EU and India are the major consumers of Lead
- Supply is controlled
by Australia and China.
- Lead in the global
market is traded as soft lead, animated lead, lead alloys and
copper-base scrap.
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Factor influencing demand and supply
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- Changes in inventory
level at LME wharehouses
- Economic growth rate
of major consuming countries
- Global growth and
demand in major consuming industries
- Prices of the
alternative metal(s)
- Participation of
funds
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Global Exchange(s)
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- London Metal
Exchange
IST of Global Exchanges (Price Clues from Other Major Global
Exchanges)
LME: 5.30 PM to 10.30 PM
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