US used Lead battery price at median 44 cents/lb

NEW YORK (Scrap Monster): The median price paid for used lead automotive batteries is currently 44 cents/lb on the US market, market sources said.

The price of the used commodities had been in a range of 43-44 cents for the past couple of weeks, but fewer buyers now say they can buy at the lower number.

In fact, one battery buyer said his price range this week crept to 44-45 cents for 50% lead-acid, starter-lighter-ignition automotive batteries, picked up.

"I have a feeling they'll move up even more because of the LME price," he said.

LME three-months lead settled at $1,995/mt Tuesday, up $3 from the previous close.

A trader in used batteries said he agreed with 44 cents as the current typical price, adding that he is reselling the commodities at about 46 cents, delivered.

"[Buyers] are trying to push it down a penny or so," he said. "But we suddenly have a resilient LME [price] in the background, so I don't know how successful they'll be ..."

However, market sources have said that some recent quotes have gone as high as 46 cents as a picked-up price.

Meanwhile, sources generally said the problem with used battery supply tightness persists, although some market participants say availability continues to improve slightly.

A battery consumer, in the former camp, said, "No matter how much you pay, there's not more [batteries] available; it's just a matter of who gets them."