Lead: Overview
Why two-thirds of lead ends up in batteries
What this tab covers What the commodity is used for, why, in what volumes and with what alternatives, and its chain from mine or field to end user. Also the latest price moves, top recent news, three things to know, and buttons into each tab.Key uses
| Use | Share | Annual volume | Why this commodity | Alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead-acid batteries: starting-lighting-ignition (cars, trucks, two-wheelers) | 86% | about 11.4 Mt a year (all lead-acid batteries)basis | Lead-acid is the cheapest way to deliver a big burst of current for engine starting, works in cold weather, and is almost fully recyclable through an established collection chain. Every combustion vehicle, and most EVs for their 12-volt system, still carries one. Statista (2024 update, 2022 data); USGS MCS 2026, Lead | Lithium-ion 12 V batteries Absorbent glass mat (AGM) remains lead-based; only lithium is a true substitute |
| Lead-acid batteries: industrial (standby power for telecom and data centres, UPS, forklifts, e-rickshaws) | n/a | n/a basis | Standby and motive batteries need large, cheap, safe energy storage that tolerates float charging for years. Lead-acid wins on upfront cost and recycling value, which is why India's e-rickshaw fleet and telecom towers use it widely. USGS MCS 2026, Lead (uses described) | Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) packs Nickel-cadmium for some rail and aviation standby |
| Rolled and extruded lead (roofing sheet, flashing, radiation and sound shielding) | n/a | n/a basis | Lead is dense, soft, easy to shape and very durable outdoors, and its density blocks X-rays and gamma rays. Hospitals, nuclear plants and heritage roofs rely on it where thin, malleable shielding is needed. USGS MCS 2026 (uses and substitutes) | Tungsten and bismuth composites for shielding Concrete and barite for bulk shielding Zinc, copper or polymer flashing |
| Ammunition and shot | n/a | n/a basis | High density and low cost give bullets and shot good momentum and easy casting. USGS lists ammunition among lead's critical uses. USGS MCS 2026 (critical mineral uses table) | Steel, bismuth and tungsten shot Copper bullets |
| Pigments, glass, ceramics and other compounds | n/a | n/a basis | Lead oxides lower melting points and raise refractive index in glass and glazes, and lead compounds stabilise PVC. Use is shrinking under health rules; lead in paint and petrol has been banned in most countries. USGS MCS 2026; Conway (2023), Material World | Calcium-zinc and organic PVC stabilisers Barium and bismuth glass formulations Titanium dioxide pigments |
| Cable sheathing, solder, wheel weights and alloys | n/a | n/a basis | Lead's corrosion resistance and low melting point once made it standard for cable sheaths, plumbing solder and balance weights. These uses have largely been replaced, which is why batteries now dominate lead demand. USGS MCS 2026, Lead (substitutes) | Plastics in cable covering Tin-based lead-free solders Steel and zinc wheel weights |
From mine to user
- 1. Mining galena with zinc and silver Lead is mined almost always with zinc, often silver. World mine output was about 4.5 Mt Pb in 2025, 42% of it in China (USGS).
- 2. Flotation to concentrate Ore is crushed and floated into separate lead and zinc concentrates; lead concentrate typically carries silver credits.
- 3. Smelting and refining Concentrate is sintered and smelted or directly smelted to lead bullion, then refined to 99.97%+ lead, recovering silver, bismuth and antimony. The US closed its last primary refinery in 2013 and exports its concentrate (USGS).
- 4. Alloying and battery making Refined lead is alloyed (with antimony or calcium) and made into battery grids and oxide paste. In the US, batteries took 67% of lead in 2025.
- 5. Use and collection Batteries last a few years, then are collected through dealers and scrap traders. The US exported 23 million spent SLI batteries in Jan-Aug 2025 (USGS).
- 6. Secondary smelting Spent batteries are broken, and lead is resmelted and refined. Secondary output was about 1 Mt in the US in 2025, 70% of consumption. World refined output was about 13.3 Mt against 4.5 Mt of mine output, so roughly two-thirds is recycled metal (derived from ILZSG and USGS).
Price movement snapshot 2026-10-25
LME lead cash settlement 1,886 US$/t Close 2026-10-23 · Westmetall (LME data) 1 week +1.7% 6 months -3.5% World production 4.78 m tonnes, 2024 Largest producer China 40.55% of world Reserve life 21 yrs reserves ÷ 2025 outputThree things to know
- Refined lead output was forecast at 13.3 million tonnes in 2025, nearly three times world mine output of about 4.5 million (USGS, citing ILZSG).
- The EU end-of-life recycling input rate for lead is 83%, among the highest of any material in the EU assessment.
- The US banned paints containing more than 0.06% lead from homes in 1978; titanium dioxide took its place (Tilton & Guzmán).
Top recent news snapshot 2026-10-25, last 30 days
- Global: LME lead prices decline as pre-holiday demand fadesBigMint · 2026-10-03
- LME lead rebounds as inventories decline; MCX gainsBigMint · 2026-10-10