Lead Market

Premium Insights

The global Lead Market is valued at USD 21.25 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach a value of USD 39.25 Billion by 2035 at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 5.75% between 2025 and 2035.

Lead is a chemical element with the symbol Pb and has an atomic number of 82. It is a heavy metal and is dense than a wide variety of common materials. It is also soft and extremely malleable, which gives it an extremely low melting point. The primary driving factors for the global Lead market to flourish can be attributed to the widening demand for energy storage for mobile and stationary applications. Additionally, awareness of the benefits of employing Lead in electric vehicles is rising. A higher electric vehicle adoption is expected to increase the footprint of the global Lead market during the forecast period.

Integration of smart-grid technologies is expected to populate the market growth for the Lead during the long term. Developing economies such as China and India have shown a clear indication of shifting towards these technologies as their primary source of delivering power. Increasing investments in smart grid technologies combined with widening applications for electric vehicles, such as stop-start and hybrid vehicles, are expected to contribute to the global market growth during the forecast period. The widening adoption rate among emerging economies of electric vehicles will add to the market value. Additionally, studies have indicated that countries such as India will rely heavily on adopting two and three-wheeled electric vehicles, contributing a sustainable amount to the global Lead market.

A budding construction sector on a global scale will enable the Lead market to flourish at an exceptional rate. Lead is heavily utilized within the construction sector in roofing materials, gutter and gutter joints, and roof parapets. The increasing population has led to a housing crisis in many economies. Additionally, with many countries lifting their COVID-19 restrictions imposed on the general population, office spaces will need renewing as they are due for maintenance after a prolonged break. Consumers are spending more on maintaining their residential properties and adding more features. These factors will support the growth of the Lead market globally.

Electric vehicles are a major adopter of Lead-based SLI batterers due to their versatile performance. Manufacturers of electric vehicles are even capitalizing on the rising battery demand by sourcing their supply chains by integrating their production of Lead. However, the market is plagued by various challenges, such as higher production costs and easy availability of substitutes. Additionally, rising competition for lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles is expected to harm the growth of Lead-based SLI batteries, hampering the growth of the global Lead market.

Economic Insights

If the world economy has yet to enter a recession, many experts believe it will by 2023. Despite many economies exhibiting confidence in a stabilising economy, the global labor market is becoming more constrained. The Federal Reserve and other central banks have increased the likelihood of a US recession from 50% in 2022 to more than 75% in 2023, though, within the US economy. In response to Russias unjustified march into Ukraine, its neighbours imposed severe economic sanctions beginning in February 2022. Developed nations with sanctions against Russia include the EU and the United States.

Top Market Trends

1. Rising Adoption of Electric Vehicle to Propel Market Growth: Global vehicular production is inclining towards electric vehicles. Studies have indicated an electric vehicle overhaul in terms of production. The market for conventional combustion engines is expected to decline over the next few decades.

2. Increasing Consumption of Electronic Products: Lead is used in a battery form in various consumer electronics, including mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and monitors. The electrical and electronic sector presents a huge potential for the global Lead battery to capitalize. According to the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA), the global electronics and IT industrys production was valued at over USD 2,950 billion in 2020. It is expected to experience a growth rate of over 7% annually.

3. Widening Applications for Lead Batteries: Valve-regulated Lead-acid (VRLA) batteries have found their usage within various applications, such as off-grid power systems, telecom tower backup systems, solar/photovoltaic systems, computer UPS, and others.

4. Expanding Construction Sector: A budding construction sector within emerging economies such as China and India are expected to propel the global Lead market during the forecast period. In 2020, the Chinese construction industry was valued at nearly USD 1,020 billion and is expected to grow at nearly 6.5%. Lead is used in the construction sector in cornices, gutters, parapets, electrical conduits, and others.

5. Improved Government Focus Towards Production and Refining Facilities: This Lead grade has various impurities such as arsenic, selenium, tellurium, bismuth, antimony, silver, copper, nickel, zinc, and tin. Various government agencies are focused on improving the refining capacities and abilities of the 96% grade Lead. This Lead grade has various impurities, such as arsenic, selenium, tellurium, bismuth, antimony, silver, copper, nickel, zinc, and tin.

Market Segmentation

The global Lead market can be categorized on the following: Type, Application, and Regions. By type, the market can be segmented across 99.94%, 99.99%, 96%, and others. In terms of application, the market can be fragmented across bullets and shots, ammunition, construction, plumbing, electronics, batteries, solders, marine, and others. Likewise, based on region, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa.

Based on Type

99.94 Lead to Dominate Market Share Owing to Widening Applications

The segment about 99.94% Lead, is expected to register the largest market share in revenue and sales. This grade of Lead is widely utilized as it is produced within various developed economies such as the United States and Germany. They exhibit the most outstanding corrosive outstanding resistance of Lead and its alloys. They are also used for making pigments, Lead oxides, and other Lead chemicals. The Lead grade of 99.99% will grow with the fastest-growing CAGR during the forecast period owing to their desirable chemical properties.

Based on Application

Batteries to Fuel Largest Market Ownership Due to Rising Utilization within Electric Vehicles

Lead-acid batteries will dominate the global Lead market during the forecast period. Factors such as rising utilization of such batteries in the form of starting, lighting, and ignition (SLI) batteries, stationary batteries (Within the sectors of telecom, UPS, and energy storage systems (ESS)), and portable batteries (Consumer electronic products) will contribute to the segmental growth. Additionally, SLI Lead batteries are designed for usage within the automobile sector and are installed within the vehicles charging system. These batteries often provide power for numerous features within the vehicle. The construction sector is expected to grow with the fastest growing CAGR during the forecast period owing to increasing demand for residential and commercial infrastructure due to the booming population.

Based on Region

Asia Pacific to Occupy Largest Market Share While Europe to Grow at the Fastest Rate

Asia Pacific will dominate the global Lead market by registering as the largest region in terms of sales and revenue. The region is a breeding ground for increased adoption of smart grid technologies, of which SLI Lead acid batteries are a major part.

North America is expected to grow with the fastest growing CAGR during the forecast period owing to the general population inclining towards increased spending on automobiles and maintaining their residences. Rising demand for Lead is expected to arise from varied sectors such as batteries, cable sheaths, machine manufacturing, shipbuilding, and Lead oxides, among others.

Competitive Landscape

The global Lead industry is expected to widen its competitive landscape due to the presence of dominant players. Additionally, players focus on increasing their production capacities to match the ongoing demand-supply gap. Additionally, the players present in the market are employing various strategies such as mergers & acquisitions along with improving their supply chains to widen their consumer base.

The key players in the global Lead market include - East Penn Manufacturing Co. Inc (US) among others.

Recent Market Developments:

• March 2023, the European Union announced that it would be banning the use of lead in gasoline by 2035. This decision will further reduce the demand for lead in the automotive sector.
• February 2023, China announced that it would be reducing its lead production by 50%. This decision was made in response to concerns about the environmental impact of lead mining and production.
• January 2023, the price of lead reached a record high of $2,500 per metric ton. This was due to the combination of the Russia-Ukraine war and the increasing demand for lead in the automotive and construction sectors.

Segmentation of the Global Lead Market