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Lead Pricing, Demand and Supply Overview
India narrowly held the highest Lead price among the tracked markets, rising just above 2.6% in Q2 2026 to near USD 1,950.00/MT from about USD 1,900.00/MT in Q1, and it was steady battery-sector demand together with the country's import duty premium that kept the market elevated. The global average climbed from close to USD 1,867.50/MT to near USD 1,916.25/MT, a gain of roughly 2.6%. It is worth noting that China's refined lead imports skyrocketed in the first half of the year in response to a domestic scrap metal shortage, which actually reduced rather than added to concerns about global market tightness, and the global average is likely to run in the USD 1,850 to 2,000/MT range through the second half of the year.
Lead is one of the oldest metals in human use and remains essential to modern transport and power infrastructure, benchmarked on the London Metal Exchange with the Shanghai Futures Exchange providing the Chinese reference price. Lead-acid batteries dominate demand, accounting for roughly eighty percent of global consumption, spanning starter batteries for conventional vehicles, traction batteries for forklifts and e-bikes, and stationary batteries for telecom towers, data centers, and grid backup power. Even electric vehicles carry a twelve-volt lead-acid auxiliary battery, which keeps replacement demand resilient regardless of the broader shift toward electrification. Because the market is this concentrated around battery demand, battery replacement cycles, scrap and secondary lead supply availability, and currency movements affecting import competitiveness are what really move the price from quarter to quarter.
Lead Price Forecast for 2026
Steady battery-sector demand, resilient even as the broader vehicle fleet electrifies given the auxiliary battery requirement, shows no clear sign of slowing, which points toward continued gradual firmness through H2 2026. Scrap and secondary lead supply availability should remain a key variable across every market tracked.
A further tightening of scrap metal availability, or a weaker dollar improving import competitiveness into major consuming markets, could be what pushes prices above this forecast. A resolution of scrap supply constraints, or softer manufacturing activity in key consuming regions, could be what eases the market back toward the lower end instead.
| Region | 2026 Price Range (USD/MT) | Outlook |
| Global Average | 1,850 - 2,000 | Steady battery demand and scrap supply dynamics |
| China | 1,800 - 1,950 | Import surge easing domestic scrap shortage concerns |
| United States | 1,870 - 2,020 | Steady battery demand, dollar strength limits imports |
| India | 1,930 - 2,080 | Import duty premium and firm battery demand |
| Germany | 1,880 - 2,030 | Steady industrial and battery-sector demand |
For the Quarter Ending June 2026
Lead Prices Q2 2026:
- China: USD 1,865.00/MT
- United States: USD 1,920.00/MT
- India: USD 1,950.00/MT
- Germany: USD 1,930.00/MT
Lead Prices in China
The Chinese price moved from about USD 1,820.00/MT to near USD 1,865.00/MT, a gain of just above 2.5%. It was a surge in refined lead imports, responding to a domestic scrap metal shortage, together with steady battery-sector demand, that carried the increase.
Why did the price of Lead change in Q2 2026 in China?
China's refined lead imports skyrocketed in the first half of the year in response to a shortage of domestic scrap metal, and it is this import surge, which actually eased broader concerns about global market tightness, that appears to explain the moderate rather than sharp Chinese price movement this quarter.
Lead Prices in United States
The United States price moved from about USD 1,870.00/MT to near USD 1,920.00/MT, a gain of just above 2.7%. It was steady demand from lead-acid battery manufacturers, together with a stronger dollar limiting import competitiveness for overseas material, that carried the increase.
Why did the price of Lead change in Q2 2026 in United States?
Lead-acid batteries account for roughly eighty percent of global lead consumption, covering starter batteries, forklift and e-bike traction batteries, and stationary backup batteries for data centers and telecom towers, and it is this broad, resilient demand base, even electric vehicles still carry a lead-acid auxiliary battery, that has kept United States pricing on a steady upward path.
Lead Prices in India
India stayed the priciest market by a narrow margin, with the price moving from about USD 1,900.00/MT to near USD 1,950.00/MT, a gain of just above 2.6%. It was pickup in demand from battery-makers, together with import duty costs layered onto the firming global benchmark, that carried the increase.
Why did the price of Lead change in Q2 2026 in India?
India's battery manufacturing sector has kept demand consistently firm this year, and it is this steady offtake, combined with the country's import duty structure adding a consistent premium over the international benchmark, that has kept Indian pricing at the top of the range.
Lead Prices in Germany
The German price moved from about USD 1,880.00/MT to near USD 1,930.00/MT, a gain of just above 2.7%. It was steady demand from the battery and industrial sectors, together with firming global benchmark prices, that carried the increase.
Why did the price of Lead change in Q2 2026 in Germany?
European battery manufacturers and industrial buyers have maintained steady procurement through the quarter, and it is this consistent demand, combined with the same firming international benchmark affecting every market tracked here, that has kept German pricing moving gradually upward.
For the Quarter Ending March 2026
Lead Prices Q1 2026:
- China: USD 1,820.00/MT
- United States: USD 1,870.00/MT
- India: USD 1,900.00/MT
- Germany: USD 1,880.00/MT
Lead Prices in China
The price reached close to USD 1,820.00/MT in Q1 2026, a rise of just above 2.3% from Q4 2025. It was steady demand from battery manufacturers, together with the early stages of the domestic scrap shortage, that pushed the market higher.
Why did the price of Lead change in Q1 2026 in China?
Domestic scrap metal availability tightened entering the year, and it was this early supply pressure, meeting steady demand from lead-acid battery manufacturers, that drove the Chinese increase ahead of the import surge that followed.
Lead Prices in United States
The price reached close to USD 1,870.00/MT in Q1 2026, a rise of just above 2.7% from Q4 2025. It was steady battery-sector demand, together with firming global benchmark prices, that pushed the market higher.
Why did the price of Lead change in Q1 2026 in United States?
Battery replacement demand held its usual steady pace entering the year, and it was this demand, meeting firming international benchmark prices on the London Metal Exchange, that drove the United States increase.
Lead Prices in India
The price reached close to USD 1,900.00/MT in Q1 2026, a rise of just above 2.2% from Q4 2025. It was steady demand from battery manufacturers, together with firming global benchmark prices, that pushed the market higher.
Why did the price of Lead change in Q1 2026 in India?
Demand from battery-makers held firm entering the year, and it was this demand, meeting firming international benchmark prices layered onto India's usual import duty premium, that drove the increase.
Lead Prices in Germany
The price reached close to USD 1,880.00/MT in Q1 2026, a rise of just above 2.2% from Q4 2025. It was firming global benchmark prices, together with steady demand from battery and industrial applications, that pushed the market higher.
Why did the price of Lead change in Q1 2026 in Germany?
International benchmark prices firmed entering the year, and it was this pass-through, combined with steady demand from battery and industrial buyers, that drove the German increase.
Quarterly Lead Price Trends
This market climbed steadily across every quarter tracked here. Close to USD 1,697.50/MT in Q1 2025 rose to about USD 1,730.00/MT, near USD 1,760.00/MT, and close to USD 1,800.00/MT by Q4, before continuing to about USD 1,867.50/MT in Q1 2026 and near USD 1,916.25/MT in Q2. That is a rise of roughly 12.9% across the window, tracking steady battery demand and scrap supply conditions closely.
| Quarter | Price (USD/MT) | QoQ Change | Direction |
| Q2 2026 | 1,916 | +2.6% | ↑ Rising |
| Q1 2026 | 1,868 | +3.8% | ↑ Rising |
| Q4 2025 | 1,800 | +2.3% | ↑ Rising |
| Q3 2025 | 1,760 | +1.7% | ↑ Rising |
| Q2 2025 | 1,730 | - | - Stable |
| Q3 2026 | In Progress | - | - In Progress |
What was Lead Price in 2025?
It was steady demand from lead-acid battery manufacturing, meeting gradually tightening scrap availability across producing regions, that drove the consistent 2025 climb. The global average opened near USD 1,697.50/MT in Q1 and climbed to close to USD 1,800.00/MT by Q4, a rise of just above 6.0% for the year, with every quarter posting a gain.
Lead Prices in China in 2025
The Chinese price climbed from about USD 1,650.00/MT in Q1 2025 to near USD 1,780.00/MT by Q4, a rise of just above 7.9% for the year. It was steady demand from lead-acid battery manufacturing, meeting gradually tightening domestic scrap availability, that drove the climb through 2025, setting the stage for the import surge that followed in early 2026.
Lead Prices in United States in 2025
The United States price climbed from about USD 1,700.00/MT in Q1 2025 to near USD 1,830.00/MT by Q4, a rise of just above 7.6% for the year. It was steady demand from the battery sector, which accounts for the large majority of lead consumption, that drove the gradual climb through 2025.
Lead Prices in India in 2025
The Indian price climbed from about USD 1,730.00/MT in Q1 2025 to near USD 1,860.00/MT by Q4, a rise of just above 7.5% for the year, the highest absolute cost among the four markets tracked throughout. It was steady demand from battery manufacturers, combined with India's consistent import duty premium over the international benchmark, that kept Indian pricing at the top of the range all year.
Lead Prices in Germany in 2025
The German price climbed from about USD 1,710.00/MT in Q1 2025 to near USD 1,840.00/MT by Q4, a rise of just above 7.6% for the year. It was steady demand from battery manufacturing and industrial applications that drove the gradual climb through 2025, tracking the broader international benchmark closely throughout the year.
How We Can Help
Expert Market Research: Your Source for Real-Time Lead Price Intelligence
The Lead market moves primarily on battery-sector demand and scrap supply dynamics, so Expert Market Research tracks battery replacement cycles closely alongside secondary lead and scrap availability and currency movements affecting import competitiveness across the four markets covered here. This is combined with trade flow data to build the forecasts. Should the Lead pricing data or procurement strategy support be needed, the team is ready to help.
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*While we strive to always give you current and accurate information, the numbers depicted on the website are indicative and may differ from the actual numbers in the main report. At Expert Market Research, we aim to bring you the latest insights and trends in the market. Using our analyses and forecasts, stakeholders can understand the market dynamics, navigate challenges, and capitalize on opportunities to make data-driven strategic decisions.*
Key Questions Answered in the Report
Lead-acid batteries account for roughly eighty percent of global consumption, covering starter batteries for vehicles, traction batteries for forklifts and e-bikes, and stationary batteries for telecom and data center backup power.
As of Q2 2026, China averages near USD 1,865.00/MT, the United States about USD 1,920.00/MT, India close to USD 1,950.00/MT, and Germany roughly USD 1,930.00/MT. India's import duty structure keeps it narrowly the priciest.
The price kept climbing, from close to USD 1,800.00/MT in Q4 2025 up to about USD 1,867.50/MT in Q1 2026, then near USD 1,916.25/MT in Q2, a gain of just above 2.6%. Steady battery demand drove both quarters.
A shortage of domestic scrap metal pushed Chinese buyers toward imported refined lead in the first half of the year. The import surge, notably, actually reduced concerns about global market tightness rather than adding to them, since it demonstrated available international supply.
The global average is likely to run in the USD 1,850 to 2,000/MT range, with steady battery demand and evolving scrap supply dynamics continuing to shape the market through the back half of the year.
India carries the highest cost narrowly, driven by its import duty structure. Germany and the United States sit close behind on steady industrial and battery demand, and China prices lowest as the market closest to global scrap and refining capacity.
The figures here are updated monthly. Real-time pricing is available directly from the team.
Battery replacement demand sits at the core, given how dominant lead-acid batteries are in total consumption. Scrap and secondary lead supply availability, and currency movements affecting import competitiveness, add further influence.
China represents the largest single market for both production and consumption, with the United States, India, and Germany each running significant battery manufacturing and recycling capacity. Scrap availability in any major region can shift global trade flows quickly.
Scrap metal availability reports are usually the earliest signal worth tracking, since secondary lead supply directly affects how much pressure falls on primary production and imports. Watching currency movements, particularly dollar strength, also helps anticipate import cost changes before they reach quoted prices.
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