Lead is a bluish-white lustrous metal. It is very soft, highly malleable, ductile, and a relatively poor conductor of electricity. It is very resistant to corrosion but tarnishes upon exposure to air. Lead isotopes are the end products of each of the three series of naturally occurring radioactive elements.

Lead is also commonly used in glass and enamel. In television picture tubes and computer video display terminals, lead helps block radiation, and the inner, though not the outer, portion of the common light bulb is made of leaded glass. Lead also increases the strength and brilliance of crystal glassware. Lead is used to make bearings and solder, and it is important in rubber production and oil refining.

The greatest use of lead is in Sealed-Lead-Acid batteries, which has seen continued growth, particularly in uses such as uninterruptible power supplies for computer applications and in machinery. Lead is also used in lots of smaller applications: ammunition, oxides for glass and ceramics, casting metals, sheet lead, solders, coverings and caulking.  Other uses of lead include lead foil, plumbing, soldering, sound proofing, ammunition etc. Historically the Indian lead metal industry has been in a deficit state, as the growth in consumption has consistently surpassed the growth in production.

Lead was the best-performing commodity through the first nine months of 2007.

Leading Players

Secondary Producers

Hindustan Zinc

(Sterlite) Hindalco    

Demand : Past & Future

Year             th MT

2000-01        107

2001-02        115

2002-03        123

2003-04        132

2004-05        150

2005-06        162

2006-07        174

2007-08        186

2008-09        198

2009-10        210

2010-11        221

2011-12        230

2012-13        241

2013-14        251

2014-15        263

2019-20        328

Market Structure

Market Segmentation

Segment                                                                   Share (%)

Storage batteries (Auto)                                               52

Storage batteries (Railways and others)                       20

Chemicals and paints                                                    22

Alloys                                                                             2

Cable sheatting                                                               2

Ammunition                                                                    2