Lead metal refined production volume worldwide 2011-2020

Global refined lead production amounted to 11.5 million metric tons in 2020. That was a decrease of approximately half of a million metric tons of refined lead production compared to the previous year.

Lead metal production

As of 2020, China was by far the main lead producer in the world. Chinese lead mining in that year reached 1.9 million metric tons, while the country's refined lead production amounted to five million metric tons. The major lead producing countries are reflected in the top lead mining companies worldwide, with Australia’s BHP and American the Doe Run Company being counted amongst the largest companies. Lead is a base metal typically used in the production of car batteries, which account for about 80 percent of worldwide lead consumption, and over two-thirds of the metal end up in car batteries.

Lead metal consumption

The global health crisis lead to a reduction in the global demand for lead. Global lead consumption contracted by around five percent to some 11.5 million metric tons in 2020. This drop is in conjunction with lead prices in the North American market dropping to less than 90 U.S. cents per pound. The growing production of electric cars and bicycles is likely to boost demand for lead over the next couple of years, with China being projected to account for most of the growth. While lithium-ion batteries are expected to replace lead-acid batteries in the long run, Chinese demand for lead-based batteries remains strong. Electric bicycle retail sales in China reached 15.8 million units in 2020, an increase from 2019 due in part to users looking for socially distanced alternatives to their daily commute.