Lead prices averaged USD 1,842 per metric ton in July, down 5.4% from June. On 31 July, the commodity traded at USD 1,833 per metric ton, down 0.2% from 30 June.
In July, average lead prices declined for the second time in four months. A stronger U.S. dollar weighed on the metal, and softer manufacturing activity in China further depressed prices. China’s refined lead imports skyrocketed in the first six months of 2026 in response to a shortage of domestic scrap metal, reducing concerns about global market tightness ahead.
This chart displays Lead (US$/mt) from 2024 to 2026.
Lead LME (prices in US$/mt, aop)
| Q1 2024 | Q2 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q4 2024 | Q1 2025 | Q2 2025 | Q3 2025 | Q4 2025 | Q1 2026 | Q2 2026 | Q3 2026 | Q4 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead LME | - | - | 2,038 | 2,004 | 1,969 | 1,945 | 1,966 | 1,968 | 1,930 | 1,954 | - | - |