Lead won’t notice, analysts say, but plastics might

Jul 01, 2009 | 08:21 AM |

With the lion's share of lead output going into battery production, analysts aren't concerned that the removal of the heavy metal from fixtures and fittings on a state—or even federal—level could have much impact on demand.

But while California Assembly Bill 1953 and its Vermont counterpart won't materially impact the fundamentals of the U.S. lead market, the "green" legislation could spark some unintended consequences in other metals markets—from minor metals supply to a further push away from red metal products in the plumbing sector, analysts said.

The idea that the removal of lead from traditionally leaded alloys won't impact demand might at first seem counter-intuitive, but according to metals industry analysts even if the legislation were to be enacted nationwide the impact on the market would be minuscule.....