In China, the demand for lead is heating up, pushing prices for the non-ferrous metal to new heights even during the traditionally slow season. Recent data shows that the most-traded June lead contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange surged to nearly 2,500 U.S. dollars per metric ton, a level not seen since July 2018. In central China's Henan Province, one smelting enterprise reports that their lead ingots are being snapped up by eager clients as soon as they are produced.