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
