[Ferro-Alloys.com] JCI’s Florence, SC, secondary lead smelter is scheduled to open this week. The 132,000-mtpy smelter is now expected to “reset” the US lead market. The smelter, JCI’s first in the US, is expected to make the company self sufficient in lead for its North American battery operations and will have the option of no longer tolling with third parties.

 

And, at least initially, the smelter could toll for other battery manufacturers. “It comes at the right time for JCI,” one analyst pointed out. “By starting now, JCI is going into the 2013 contract season with the most ammunition. All of JCI’s existing toll converters will be under pressure to fill their smelters from the potential loss of JCI’s business. And, with scrap prices still high, it could be an expensive proposition.” Also, Exide’s plans to stop selling lead and instead concentrate on batteries coincides with JCI opening its new smelter.

 

The battery-scrap squeeze on secondarylead producers has been easing. A combination of higher LME prices and an increased availability of scrap were the main factors.