Metalnewsnet 29 Mar:

China's refined lead consumption should rise 20 percent in 2010 as production of lead-acid batteries rises 25 percent, an industry executive said on Friday.

The growth in the lead-acid battery sector, taking up about 75 percent of the country's refined lead consumption, would be driven by the country's green energy projects and the transport sector, including electric buses, said Zeng Jianjun, deputy secretary of the China Lead-acid Battery Association.

China is the world's top lead producer and consumer.

"Lead consumption certainly would rise 20 percent this year," Zeng, who is also chief operating officer of battery maker Ritar Power, told Reuters at the end of an industry forum in Shenzhen city.

Editor: KylinTse