Cloud innovation among mining industry companies has dropped off in the last year
Research and innovation in cloud in the mining industry operations and technologies sector has declined...
Global Lead Market Trends
Demand for lead is primarily driven by lead-acid batteries used in conventional fuel car batteries as well as electric vehicles (EVs).
Mining Technology monitors the global lead market by observing lead price trends and analysing country-wise lead production, consumption, and export and import data. The performance metrics of lead mining companies and major lead mines around the world is also tracked.
Global lead metal production is recovering following a 5% decline to 4.5 million tonnes (Mt) in 2020. Lead production is forecast to reach 5.2Mt in 2025, according to GlobalData.
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GlobalData forecasts data for 15 commodities of 60 leading mining countries, with 70 reports per year covering supply & demand, key projects, activities of major mining companies and fiscal regimes.
Lead Price Trend: Trailing 12 Months
Mining Technology displays the global lead price trend over the last 12 months.
The lead price fell by 4.5% to average $1,976/t in July. The lead price fell to its lowest point since November 2020 in July, down to $1,891/t, though recovered by the end of the month to end on $2,203/t.
Biggest Lead Producing Companies
Mining Technology has ranked the world’s biggest lead producing companies by comparing the annual output of major lead mining companies operating in different parts of the globe.
Glencore was the world’s biggest lead producer in 2021, followed by South32 and Teck Resources.
The world’s ten biggest lead producing companies together accounted for 18% of the global total lead output in 2021.
| Current Rank | Rank 2020 | Company Name | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Glencore plc | Switzerland |
| 2 | 2 | South32 Ltd | Australia |
| 3 | 3 | Teck Resources Ltd | Canada |
| 4 | 5 | Newmont Corp | United States |
| 5 | 4 | Industrias Penoles SAB de CV | Mexico |
| 6 | 7 | Volcan Compania Minera SAA | Peru |
| 7 | 6 | Boliden AB | Sweden |
| 8 | 9 | Hecla Mining Co | United States |
| 9 | 8 | Zijin Mining Group Co Ltd | China |
| 10 | 10 | Silvercorp Metals Inc | Canada |
Source: GlobalData
Expert Comments and Analysis
Largest Lead Mining Countries
Mining Technology lists the top lead mining countries by production from GlobalData’s comprehensive database capturing the annual output of major lead producing countries in the world.
China, followed by Australia and the US, were the biggest among the list of countries by lead production in 2021.
The top ten lead producing countries together accounted for 85% of the global lead output in 2021.
Biggest Lead Mines in the World
The world’s biggest lead mines are identified from GlobalData’s database of major lead mining projects around the world.
With an output of 0.132Mtpa, Mount Isa Zinc Mine in Australia emerged as the world’s biggest lead mine in 2021.
The world’s ten biggest lead mining operations together accounted for 20% of the global lead output in 2021.
| Mine Name | Country | State | Owner | Mine Type & Method | Production 2021 (Thousand tonnes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Isa Zinc Mine | Australia | Queensland | Glencore Plc(100%) | Surface and Underground & Open Pit/Long Hole Stoping | 132.9 |
| Castellanos Project | Cuba | Pinar del Rio | GeoMinera S.A(51%), Trafigura Group Pte Ltd(49%) | Surface & Open Pit | 122.36 |
| Cannington Mine | Australia | Queensland | South32 Ltd(100%) | Underground & Long Hole Stoping | 114 |
| Plovdiv Mine | Bulgaria | Plovdiv | KCM 2000 Group(100%) | Surface & To be confirmed | 94.02 |
| Fankou Mine | China | Guangdong | Shenzhen Zhongjin Lingnan Nonfemet Co Ltd(100%) | Underground & To be confirmed | 93.05 |
| Kardzhali Lead and Zinc Mine | Bulgaria | Kardzhali | Harmony 2012, Ltd.(50%), Undisclosed(50%) | Surface & To be confirmed | 92.83 |
| Red Dog Mine | United States | Alaska | Teck Resources Ltd(100%) | Surface & Open Pit | 90 |
| Penasquito Mine | Mexico | Zacatecas | Newmont Corp(100%) | Surface & Open Pit | 77.13 |
| Uchalinsk Mine | Russia | Republic of Bashkortostan | Government of Bashkortostan(38%), Ural Mining and Metallurgical Co(38%), Undisclosed(24%) | Surface and Underground & Open Pit/Room and Pillar | 75.63 |
| Sindesar Khurd Mine | India | Rajasthan | Vedanta Resources Ltd(42.31%), Government of India(29.54%), Undisclosed(28.1499%) | Underground & Stoping | 56.02 |
Source: GlobalData
Major Upcoming Lead Mines
Mining Technology lists the major upcoming lead mines in the world by comparing annual production capacities of upcoming lead mining projects.
The Torlon Hill Project in Guatemala is the biggest upcoming lead mine in the world, with an annual production capacity of 0.198Mt.
The Hermosa Project in the US and the Admiral Bay Project in Australia are the next major upcoming lead mines with capacities of 0.118Mt and 0.115Mt, respectively.
| Mine Name | Country | State | Owner | Mine Type & Method | Annual Production Capacity (Thousand tonnes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torlon Hill Project | Guatemala | Huehuetenango | Firestone Ventures Inc(100%) | Surface & Open Pit | 198.05 |
| Hermosa Project | United States | Arizona | South32 Ltd(100%) | Underground & Long Hole Stoping | 118.84 |
| Admiral Bay Project | Australia | Western Australia | Metalicity Ltd(80.3%), Undisclosed(19.7%) | Underground & Room and Pillar | 115 |
| Ozernoe Mine | Russia | Buryatia | Metropol Group(100%) | Surface & Open Pit | 108 |
| Pickett Mountain Project | United States | Maine | Wolfden Resources Corporation(100%) | Underground & Long Hole Stoping | 104.51 |
| Abra Base Metals Project | Australia | Western Australia | Galena Mining Ltd(77.28%), Toho Zinc Co Ltd(22.72%) | Underground & Long Hole Stoping | 95 |
| Pine Point Project | Canada | Northwest Territories | Osisko Metals Inc.(100%) | Surface and Underground & Open Pit/Long Hole Stoping | 64.86 |
| Dairi Project | Indonesia | North Sumatra | China Non-ferrous Metal Industry’s Foreign Engineering and Construction Co Ltd(51%), Undisclosed(31.5%), PT Bumi Resources Tbk(17.5%) | Underground & Long Hole Stoping | 63.75 |
| Pegmont Project | Australia | Queensland | Vendetta Mining Corp(100%) | Surface and Underground & Open Pit/Cut and Fill | 56.24 |
| Sorby Hills Project | Australia | Western Australia | Boab Metals Ltd(75%), Henan Yuguang Gold and Lead Co Ltd(25%) | Surface & Open Pit | 50 |
Source: GlobalData Top Global Projects
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