Lead

Lead is a dense, soft, and malleable metal that is primarily extracted from galena ore. It has a greyish-blue appearance and is known for its resistance to corrosion. The leading producers of lead are China, Australia, and the United States. Lead is used in battery manufacturing, radiation shielding, and roofing materials due to its durability and protective properties. In steelmaking lead is not a common alloying element, but may be used in specific cases to improve the machinability of steel.

Sub-Category	Abbreviation	Core Content Range	Size Range
Lead Granules	Pb Granules	Pb 99.9-100%	0.5-1.4 mm
Lead Ingot	Pb Ingot	Various	n/a

Please note that the above listed sub-categories including its core content and size ranges are just a snapshot of Metalshub’s currently traded raw materials. We are adding new sub-categories on a monthly basis and would be happy to assess your specific requirements to this category.

Metalshub provides producers and consumers of lead with a software solution to improve the way they buy or sell it. Our software connects over 2,000 companies in a joint trading network. This allows sellers to discover new buyers of lead and buyers to discover new suppliers of lead.

For buyers, Metalshub’s Procurement Solution allows steel mills and other consumers to digitalise their procurement process in order to increase sourcing efficiency, ensure compliant buying, and take data-driven decisions. For sellers, Metalshub’s Sales Solution allows miners, traders, and other sellers to digitalise their sales process, manage inventory, and optimise their sales book.

Several institutions provide pricing for lead:

1. London Metal Exchange (LME): LME offers official prices for lead, along with futures and options contracts, helping stakeholders manage price risks in the metals market. LME prices are widely used as a global benchmark for lead​ (LME).
2. Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE): SHFE tracks live lead prices for the Chinese market, offering futures contracts and price transparency for industrial participants​ (SHFE)​.
3. Argus Media: Argus provides journalistic lead price assessments, including insights into lead market trends and price drivers. Their platform offers real-time pricing data and market reports for different regions​ (Argus Media).

Beyond these three examples, other providers may also provide prices.

The leading countries producing lead are:

• China – ~45% of global lead production, both mining and refining the metal
• Australia – ~10%, a major exporter of lead to international markets
• United States – ~10%, producing lead for batteries and industrial uses
• Peru – ~5%, with significant lead mining operations
• Mexico – ~5%, focused on lead for domestic and international consumption

Some of the key producers of lead include:

• Glencore (Switzerland) – ~10% of global lead production
• China Minmetals Corporation (China) – ~10% of global lead production
• BHP (Australia) – ~<10% of global lead production
• Doe Run Company (USA) – ~<10% of global lead production
• Volcan Compañía Minera (Peru) – ~5% of global lead production

Lead is mined from galena (lead sulphide) ore through both underground and open-pit mining. The ore is crushed and smelted to remove sulphur, producing lead bullion. The bullion is refined to remove impurities, resulting in high-purity lead ingots or granules. Lead can also be recovered from recycled lead-acid batteries, contributing significantly to global supply.

Lead is primarily used in battery manufacturing (~85%), especially in lead-acid batteries for vehicles and backup power systems. It is also used in radiation shielding (~5%) for medical and industrial applications and in construction materials (~4%) such as roofing and pipes. Lead ingots and granules are commonly used for these purposes. In rare cases lead is also used in steelmaking, where it can be added as an alloying element to improve the machinability of steel.