Lead Smelter Survey

Continuing the series of periodic surveys, a global rundown of primary and secondary lead production and refining is presented. the aim is to provide information on technology and production trends for the benefit of all involved in the industry. Recent changes in the global lead industry include closure of several two-stage production processes (sintering and lead shaft furnaces or Imperial Smelting Furnaces), mainly in the Western world. New producers can treat secondary materials from the more and more dominating lead-acid battery scrap sector; this compensates for the loss of primary production in the Western world. Production in Asia has grown very fast and so the world production has grown to 8.5 Mt/y in 2008. However the impact of the recent global financial crisis may bring some changes. Summaries of production statistics and technologies used will help the lead industry to benchmark its operations