Import origins by country since 2010
Where US imports come from each month, by country and grade.
Price per kg contained
$1.93
- 1M
- −7.7%
- 6M
- −6.2%
- 1Y
- −7.8%
- 5Y
- −17.0%
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Lead price chart
The Stockatomics monthly US benchmark for lead, in US dollars per kg contained.
$1.93
- 1m
- −7.7%
- 6m
- −6.2%
- 1y
- −7.8%
- 5y
- −17.0%
18 October 2026
- Benchmark price
- $1.93
- Import volume
- Locked
- All-imports price
- Locked
- Premium-priced imports
- Locked
- China share of imports
- Locked
- China unit-value spread
- Locked
- Origin countries
- Locked
At a glance
Lead price key figures
- Price per kg contained
- $1.93
- 1-month change
- −7.7%
- 6-month change
- −6.2%
- 1-year change
- −7.8%
- 5-year change
- −17.0%
- 12-month high
- $2.09
- 12-month low
- $1.93
- Price month
- October 2026
- Price type
- Stockatomics monthly benchmark
- Last updated
- 18 October 2026
By month
Lead monthly prices
The lead benchmark for every month from January 2010 to October 2026, in US dollars per kg contained, newest first.
| Month | Price per kg contained | Change |
|---|---|---|
| $1.93 | 0.0% | |
| $1.93 | 0.0% | |
| $1.93 | −7.7% | |
| $2.09 | 0.0% | |
| $2.09 | +1.5% | |
| $2.06 | +1.5% | |
| $2.03 | −1.5% | |
| $2.06 | 0.0% | |
| $2.06 | +1.0% | |
| $2.04 | +0.5% | |
| $2.03 | −1.0% | |
| $2.05 | +3.5% | |
| $1.98 | −7.9% | |
| $2.15 | +2.4% | |
| $2.10 | +2.4% | |
| $2.05 | −2.4% | |
| $2.10 | 0.0% | |
| $2.10 | +2.4% | |
| $2.05 | −0.5% | |
| $2.06 | 0.0% | |
| $2.06 | +1.0% | |
| $2.04 | +1.5% | |
| $2.01 | +4.1% | |
| $1.93 | −0.5% | |
| $1.94 | −5.4% | |
| $2.05 | −3.8% | |
| $2.13 | −4.5% | |
| $2.23 | +11.5% | |
| $2.00 | −3.4% | |
| $2.07 | +3.0% | |
| $2.01 | +2.0% | |
| $1.97 | −7.1% | |
| $2.12 | −0.9% | |
| $2.14 | +3.9% | |
| $2.06 | −6.4% | |
| $2.20 | −2.7% | |
| $2.26 | −0.4% | |
| $2.27 | +3.2% | |
| $2.20 | −2.2% | |
| $2.25 | +9.8% | |
| $2.05 | −5.5% | |
| $2.17 | −6.5% | |
| $2.32 | +8.9% | |
| $2.13 | −3.2% | |
| $2.20 | +0.5% | |
| $2.19 | −3.5% | |
| $2.27 | +12.9% | |
| $2.01 | −1.0% | |
| $2.03 | −7.3% | |
| $2.19 | 0.0% | |
| $2.19 | +1.9% | |
| $2.15 | −6.9% | |
| $2.31 | −0.9% | |
| $2.33 | +0.9% | |
| $2.31 | −3.3% | |
| $2.39 | −1.2% | |
| $2.42 | +1.7% | |
| $2.38 | +1.7% | |
| $2.34 | +5.9% | |
| $2.21 | −3.1% | |
| $2.28 | −1.7% | |
| $2.32 | −0.4% | |
| $2.33 | +8.9% | |
| $2.14 | −2.3% | |
| $2.19 | +6.3% | |
| $2.06 | −1.4% | |
| $2.09 | +2.5% | |
| $2.04 | +0.5% | |
| $2.03 | +1.0% | |
| $2.01 | +10.4% | |
| $1.82 | +1.1% | |
| $1.80 | −5.8% | |
| $1.91 | +7.9% | |
| $1.77 | +1.7% | |
| $1.74 | −1.1% | |
| $1.76 | +1.7% | |
| $1.73 | −3.9% | |
| $1.80 | −6.7% | |
| $1.93 | +1.0% | |
| $1.91 | +1.6% | |
| $1.88 | −3.1% | |
| $1.94 | −3.5% | |
| $2.01 | −2.0% | |
| $2.05 | +2.5% | |
| $2.00 | −3.4% | |
| $2.07 | +1.5% | |
| $2.04 | +12.1% | |
| $1.82 | −4.7% | |
| $1.91 | −1.5% | |
| $1.94 | −5.4% | |
| $2.05 | +4.1% | |
| $1.97 | −1.5% | |
| $2.00 | +2.6% | |
| $1.95 | 0.0% | |
| $1.95 | +2.1% | |
| $1.91 | 0.0% | |
| $1.91 | −15.5% | |
| $2.26 | +8.7% | |
| $2.08 | −1.4% | |
| $2.11 | −9.4% | |
| $2.33 | +7.9% | |
| $2.16 | −6.5% | |
| $2.31 | −4.9% | |
| $2.43 | −3.2% | |
| $2.51 | +5.9% | |
| $2.37 | +0.4% | |
| $2.36 | +0.9% | |
| $2.34 | +1.7% | |
| $2.30 | +1.8% | |
| $2.26 | +5.6% | |
| $2.14 | −2.3% | |
| $2.19 | +5.8% | |
| $2.07 | −8.0% | |
| $2.25 | +1.8% | |
| $2.21 | −1.3% | |
| $2.24 | +2.3% | |
| $2.19 | +3.3% | |
| $2.12 | +1.0% | |
| $2.10 | +6.1% | |
| $1.98 | +8.8% | |
| $1.82 | −1.1% | |
| $1.84 | +2.8% | |
| $1.79 | −1.1% | |
| $1.81 | +1.1% | |
| $1.79 | −29.0% | |
| $2.52 | +36.2% | |
| $1.85 | +0.5% | |
| $1.84 | +2.8% | |
| $1.79 | −11.4% | |
| $2.02 | +10.4% | |
| $1.83 | −15.7% | |
| $2.17 | +16.7% | |
| $1.86 | +6.3% | |
| $1.75 | +9.4% | |
| $1.60 | −9.6% | |
| $1.77 | −9.7% | |
| $1.96 | +5.9% | |
| $1.85 | +0.5% | |
| $1.84 | +10.2% | |
| $1.67 | −6.7% | |
| $1.79 | −3.8% | |
| $1.86 | −3.1% | |
| $1.92 | +2.1% | |
| $1.88 | −8.7% | |
| $2.06 | +4.0% | |
| $1.98 | −9.2% | |
| $2.18 | +6.9% | |
| $2.04 | −1.0% | |
| $2.06 | +5.6% | |
| $1.95 | 0.0% | |
| $1.95 | +4.3% | |
| $1.87 | +3.3% | |
| $1.81 | −12.1% | |
| $2.06 | +13.8% | |
| $1.81 | −2.7% | |
| $1.86 | −3.6% | |
| $1.93 | −0.5% | |
| $1.94 | −8.1% | |
| $2.11 | +7.1% | |
| $1.97 | +4.2% | |
| $1.89 | −1.0% | |
| $1.91 | +0.5% | |
| $1.90 | −14.4% | |
| $2.22 | −2.6% | |
| $2.28 | +2.2% | |
| $2.23 | +13.8% | |
| $1.96 | −1.0% | |
| $1.98 | +8.2% | |
| $1.83 | +5.2% | |
| $1.74 | +3.0% | |
| $1.69 | −3.4% | |
| $1.75 | −6.9% | |
| $1.88 | +2.7% | |
| $1.83 | +2.2% | |
| $1.79 | −5.3% | |
| $1.89 | +2.2% | |
| $1.85 | −5.1% | |
| $1.95 | +7.7% | |
| $1.81 | −13.0% | |
| $2.08 | −11.9% | |
| $2.36 | +25.5% | |
| $1.88 | −12.1% | |
| $2.14 | +2.9% | |
| $2.08 | +4.0% | |
| $2.00 | −4.8% | |
| $2.10 | 0.0% | |
| $2.10 | +1.0% | |
| $2.08 | 0.0% | |
| $2.08 | +2.0% | |
| $2.04 | +1.0% | |
| $2.02 | 0.0% | |
| $2.02 | +5.8% | |
| $1.91 | +7.3% | |
| $1.78 | +10.6% | |
| $1.61 | +3.2% | |
| $1.56 | −14.8% | |
| $1.83 | −7.1% | |
| $1.97 | +5.9% | |
| $1.86 | −1.6% | |
| $1.89 | −5.5% | |
| $2.00 | −5.7% | |
| $2.12 | - |
Summary
Lead price summary
Lead is trading at a 12-month low of $1.93 per kg contained.
Over the past 12 months it has ranged from $1.93 to $2.09 per kg contained.
Over one year the price has changed −7.8%, and over five years −17.0%.
Uses
What lead is used for
Lead (Pb) goes overwhelmingly into lead-acid batteries: the starter batteries in nearly every car, including the auxiliary batteries of electric vehicles, and the backup power for data centres, telecoms networks and hospitals. It is also one of the most recycled materials in the world, as spent batteries are collected and remelted almost completely.
Other uses
- Radiation shielding in medicine and nuclear power
- Cable sheathing and roofing
- Ammunition
- Ballast, weights and specialty alloys
Market
Lead supply and demand factors
Lead is a mature market with a twist: most refined lead now comes from recycled batteries rather than mines, which makes supply responsive to scrap collection. Demand is tied to car and industrial batteries, including backup power for data centres and telecoms. Mine supply, mostly a by-product of zinc and silver mining, matters less, but smelter disruptions and environmental rules can still tighten the market.
What moves the price
- Battery demand from cars, industry and data centres
- Scrap battery collection and recycling rates
- Environmental regulation of smelters
- Zinc and silver mine output
History
Lead price history
Lead has been the steadiest of the base metals, trading in a relatively narrow range for more than a decade. Its high recycling rate dampens price swings, as scrap supply responds to demand, and environmental rules on smelters have been the main source of disruption.
As of October 2026, the Stockatomics benchmark price is $1.93 per kg contained.
Production
Where lead is produced
China is the largest producer and consumer of lead, followed by Australia, the United States, Mexico and Peru. Most refined lead now comes from recycled batteries, and the US recycles nearly all of its spent lead-acid batteries.
Criticality
Why lead is a critical mineral
Lead was added to the US critical minerals list in 2025. Batteries for vehicles, data centres and backup power still depend on it, and while recycling supplies most US needs, smelting capacity is limited and disruptions in a few countries tighten the refined market.
Benchmark
How the lead benchmark price is calculated
Stockatomics publishes a monthly US benchmark price for lead in US dollars per kg contained, reading as of October 2026. The price is for contained lead metal, not for a finished battery.
Converting the price
- Per tonne: multiply the price per kg by 1,000
- Per pound: multiply the price per kg by 0.4536
Stocks
Lead stocks
Listed companies with lead in their business, and their role in it.
| Company | Ticker | Exchange | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boliden | BOL | STO | Producer |
| Glencore | GLCNF | OTC | Producer |
| Hindustan Zinc | HINDZINC | NSE | Producer |
| Americas Gold and Silver | USAS | NYSE American | By-product producer |
| First Majestic Silver | AG | NYSE | By-product producer |
| Hecla Mining | HL | NYSE | By-product producer |
| Newmont | NEM | NYSE | By-product producer |
| Nexa Resources | NEXA | NYSE | By-product producer |
| Pan American Silver | PAAS | NYSE | By-product producer |
Stockatomics Terminal
More lead data in the Terminal
The Stockatomics Terminal has the full picture for lead, for subscribers.
Full price history with all import series
The benchmark beside the all-imports and premium-priced import prices, with volumes.
Supply scores and constraints
Supply concentration, elasticity and the constraints behind them.
Companies and production exposure
Which listed companies produce it, and how much of their value depends on it.
FAQ
Lead price FAQ
What is the price of lead per kg today?
The Stockatomics US benchmark price of lead is $1.93 per kg contained as of October 2026. Stockatomics updates it every month.
What is lead mainly used for?
Lead-acid batteries take the vast majority of demand: car starter batteries, including the auxiliary batteries in electric vehicles, and backup power for data centres, telecoms and hospitals.
Is lead recycled?
Yes. Lead-acid batteries are among the most recycled products in the world, and recycled lead now supplies most of the refined lead used in the United States.
Why was lead added to the US critical minerals list?
Batteries, backup power and defence uses depend on it, US smelting capacity is limited, and disruptions in a few producing countries can tighten the refined market.
How is the lead benchmark price calculated?
The Stockatomics benchmark for lead is a monthly US price in US dollars per kg contained, published every month and current as of October 2026. How the benchmark is calculated.
Sources
Sources
- U.S. trade data: the monthly lead price.
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): the US critical minerals list.
- Company filings: the listed companies and their roles.