Global lead use exceeded 10 million tonnes for the first time ever in 2011, according to the International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG).
The ILZSG, which was set up by the United Nations in 1959, is one of the longest established International Commodity Organisations. In January 2012 it released figures showing a six per cent rise in global demand for refined lead metal to 10.15 million tonnes.
The ILZSG also predicts that global lead use will grow a further four per cent to bring usage to 10.56 million tonnes in 2012.
The rise in use is primarily being driven by China and the United States.
Global production of lead also increased in 2011 by 7.2 per cent due to increased production in China, Germany, India, the Republic of Korea and the United States.
A recent report by Bloomberg News confirmed that China is continuing to bolster lead demand.
It predicts that increasing demand for lead metal in China will continue to grow the market and also result in prices rising by as much as 19 per cent to $2,500 per tonne in 2012.
China, already the world’s largest lead consumer with 44 per cent of global demand, is tipped to increase its lead use by 9.5 per cent in 2012 by increasing production of lead-acid batteries for automotive, emergency lighting and electric bicycle applications.
The China Battery Industry Association claims the increase will be driven by consumer demand in several sectors, especially the electric bicycles industry which expects 150 million unites on Chinese roads in 2015 compared to 120 million bikes in 2010.
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