The most significant world lead reserves are located in Australia. They are estimated at approximately 30 million tonnes.
The country’s mine lead production volumes mounted to over 550,000 tonnes in 2011. The figure was 60,000 tonnes, or 10%, lower a year before.
Domestic refinery plants generated in total around 210,000 tonnes of primary and secondary lead in 2011. The volume rested roughly at the previous year level.
The demand for lead in the country was evaluated at 51,000 tonnes in 2011, up by 2,000 tonnes, or 4.1%, from 2010.
Lead production and consumption trends in Australia, 2006-2011, metric tons
Australia exported around one fifth of its lead output in 2010. Lead export volumes were estimated at 155,000 tonnes, a fall by 85,000 tonnes year on year.
Republic of Korea, India and Malaysia had the most prominent shares in country’s exports in 2010. Overall they obtained 56,600 tonnes.
New Zealand was the key importer to Australia in 2009. However, it could not maintain the position in 2010. Most imports came from manufacturers based in Russia, India and South Africa.
The world mine output of lead content was 4.5 million tonnes in 2011, in comparison with 4.1 million tonnes a year earlier.
The figure is expected to boost by 300,000 tonnes in 2012. It will possibly reach 6 million tonnes in 2016.
Trend of world lead mine production, 2006-2011, thousand metric tons of lead content
Global refinery operators made 10 million tonnes of lead in 2011, up by 500,000 tonnes registered in 2010. The amount is forecast to enhance to about 10.5 million tonnes in 2012. The average annual growth will possibly be 500,000 tonnes through 2017.
China turned to be the major producer in 2011. Its share in the total output was 45 percent. The country is set remain the leader in the lead production in the coming years.
More information on the Lead market can be found in the report Lead Market Review
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