In 2023, the average price for lead stood at 2,136 nominal U.S. dollars per metric ton. It is forecast that in 2026 the price of one metric ton of lead will amount to 2,100 nominal U.S. dollars.

Lead increased 138.50 USD/MT or 7.10% since the beginning of 2025, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Lead - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on March of 2025.

This statistic depicts the average monthly prices for lead worldwide from January 2014 through January 2025. In January 2025, the average monthly price for lead worldwide stood at 1,921.36 nominal U.S. dollars per metric ton.

In May 2023, the price of Lead was $2,884 per ton (FOB, Australia), which saw a 19% increase compared to the previous month.

In June 2022, the lead price per ton stood at $2,180 per ton in June 2022, approximately mirroring the previous month.

Explore how the LME lead spot price, quoted in U.S. dollars per tonne, influences the metal industry by reflecting supply and demand dynamics, economic trends, and technological advancements. Understand its impact on mining, manufacturing, and trading decisions, and its role in hedging and speculation in the global lead market.

China Settlement Price: Shanghai Future Exchange: Lead: 1st Month data was reported at 17,485.000 RMB/Ton in 25 Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 17,560.000 RMB/Ton for 24 Mar 2025. China Settlement Price: Shanghai Future Exchange: Lead: 1st Month data is updated daily, averaging 15,355.000 RMB/Ton from Mar 2011 (Median) to 25 Mar 2025, with 3402 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22,535.000 RMB/Ton in 29 Nov 2016 and a record low of 11,945.000 RMB/Ton in 14 Jan 2015. China Settlement Price: Shanghai Future Exchange: Lead: 1st Month data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Shanghai Futures Exchange. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Financial Market – Table CN.ZB: Shanghai Futures Exchange: Commodity Futures: Settlement Price: Daily.

In 2021, the average sales price of lead in China was 15,278 yuan per ton, an increase of 3.4 percent compared to 2020. In the past decade, the average sales price of lead in China has fluctuated between 13,097 yuan and 19,126 yuan per ton.

In July 2023, the price of Lead was $2,172 per ton (CIF, India), decreasing by -3.1% compared to the previous month.

Global refined lead production amounted to 11.9 million metric tons in 2022. That was a decrease of approximately 300,000 metric tons of refined lead production compared to the previous year. Lead metal production As of 2023, 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 over five million metric tons in 2022. 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 among 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 amounted to over 13 million metric tons in 2023, a slight increase in comparison to the previous two years. Alongside the steady lead consumption volume in the past few years, lead prices in the North American market have also been consistent over the past three years, at an average of 115 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 eventually, Chinese demand for lead-based batteries remains strong.

In the first quarter (Q1) of 2022, the average price of cobalt metal worldwide amounted to 78,779 U.S. dollars per metric ton. The cobalt metal price was the highest in the second quarter (Q2) of 2022, with a total average price of 81,277 U.S dollars per metric ton. Cobalt metal's average global price was the lowest in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2022, with an average price of 50,449 U.S. dollars per metric ton.

In April 2023, the lead ore price amounted to $1,637 per ton (FOB, Australia), waning by -19.9% against the previous month.

Australia had the world’s largest reserves of lead as of 2024, amounting to 35 million metric tons that year. China had the second-largest lead reserves at that time, amounting to 22 million metric tons. The total global reserves of lead amounted to 96 million metric tons in 2024. Global lead industry figures In 2024, China was the leading producer of lead worldwide, despite having the second-largest lead reserves in the world. That year, China produced an estimated 1.9 million metric tons of lead. The market price of lead in North America has fluctuated slightly in recent years: in 2015 the price was 91.2 U.S. cents per pound, while the 2023 price stood at an estimated 115 U.S. cents per pound. Lead and its uses Lead is a naturally occurring element that is soft and malleable. It is a post-transition metal that is very dense and is easily tarnished to a dull grey color. Lead’s use by humans dates back to 7000-6500 BCE, first found in modern day Anatolia. Ancient Egyptians first used it in cosmetics, and as well as likely having used the metal in glasses, enamels, and as weights for fishing nets. In recent decades, however the use of lead has decreased due to health concerns. Prolonged exposure to lead can cause negative health effects. Regardless of these negative health effects, it is still seen as a valuable commodity. It remains commonly used in car batteries, pigments, lifting weights, and ammunition. The total global consumption of refined lead in 2023 amounted to approximately 13.1 million metric tons.

Iron and steel scrap prices in the United State stood at around 325 U.S. dollars per metric ton in 2024. The majority of domestic steel industry scrap consumption is from manufacturers of raw steel, and steel castings. These raw materials are used to produce steel products that are used for appliances, construction, machinery, and transportation, among various other industry uses. Only small amounts of steel scrap were used for the production of ferroalloys, copper precipitation, and the chemical industry. Recycling scrap Recycled iron and steel scrap materials have been essential for the production of new steel and cast iron products. Vehicles are one of the largest sources of old steel scrap used for recycling and nearly 100 percent of cars are recycled for their scrap material. It is expected that the recycling rate for scrap materials from appliances and construction purposes should rise, especially as public interest for recycling grows and profitability increases.

In 2021, the average annual market price of copper peaked at 9,322 U.S. dollars per metric ton, before slightly decreasing in 2022 and 2023, when its average price was 8,478 U.S. dollars. Copper consumption Copper is a base metal that has a wide variety of uses, which makes it an important commodity. Equipment production generally accounts on average for one third of copper consumption, making it the largest global end use of copper. The country with the highest demand for copper as of 2022 was China, with a demand amounting to nearly nine million metric tons of copper. Following China was Europe, with a total demand of just over two million metric tons. Copper market prices The London Metal Exchange and Comex both provide market prices for copper. In 2023, the copper price for the London Metal Exchange was about 390 U.S. cents per pound. The average Comex price in 2022 was estimated to be about 400 U.S. cents per pound.

Metal and Steel Price: Delhi: Cold Rolled Coils 1.00 mm data was reported at 64,550.000 INR/Metric Ton in Feb 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 69,330.000 INR/Metric Ton for Jan 2025. Metal and Steel Price: Delhi: Cold Rolled Coils 1.00 mm data is updated monthly, averaging 48,610.000 INR/Metric Ton from Aug 2003 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 255 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 94,990.000 INR/Metric Ton in Apr 2022 and a record low of 24,300.000 INR/Metric Ton in Oct 2003. Metal and Steel Price: Delhi: Cold Rolled Coils 1.00 mm data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Joint Plant Committee. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Metal and Steel Sector – Table IN.WAC008: Metal and Steel Retail Prices: New Delhi: Monthly.

Metal and Steel Price: Chennai: Blooms 150x150 mm data was reported at 39,280.000 INR/Metric Ton in Aug 2020. This stayed constant from the previous number of 39,280.000 INR/Metric Ton for Jul 2020. Metal and Steel Price: Chennai: Blooms 150x150 mm data is updated monthly, averaging 31,870.000 INR/Metric Ton from Aug 2003 (Median) to Aug 2020, with 198 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 48,876.000 INR/Metric Ton in Jun 2018 and a record low of 14,800.000 INR/Metric Ton in Oct 2003. Metal and Steel Price: Chennai: Blooms 150x150 mm data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Joint Plant Committee. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Price – Table IN.PG005: Memo Items: Metal and Steel Price.

Graph and download economic data for Producer Price Index by Commodity: Metals and Metal Products: Cast Iron Scrap (WPU101213) from Dec 1986 to Feb 2025 about iron, metals, commodities, PPI, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

Discover the latest increase in lead price in Australia, with a modest rise to $2,433 per ton, and stay informed about the trends that impact the market. Read more!

In 2023, the average price of cadmium in the United States stood at 4.1 U.S. dollars per kilogram. Up from some 3.4 U.S. dollars per kilogram in the previous year, this was the highest figure reported during the period in consideration.

More about cadmium

Cadmium is a silvery-white post-transition metal that was first discovered in 1817 in Germany by scientists Freidrich Stromeyer and Karl Hermann. This malleable metal is extracted as a by-product of zinc refinement, and shares similarities with zinc. Its melting temperature is 321 degrees Celsius, and it is considered toxic. Because the melting points of cadmium and zinc are different, the two metals can be separated using this method. In the liquid mixture of the two metals, zinc becomes a solid first. After that, the liquid cadmium is left behind.

Cadmium in batteries

Rechargeable batteries are made with cadmium and nickel. There are two types of batteries: industrial and portable. Industrial batteries are used for things such as emergency brakes, air conditioning, and alarm systems. Portable batteries are used for computer equipment, military communications, and emergency lighting. China is the largest producer of cadmium worldwide, with a refinery production volume estimated at 9,000 metric tons in 2023. While imports of cadmium into the United States have dropped in recent years, exports of the metal have increased.