A long-term annual-average price series for lead is not yet published on Critical Minerals HQ. To preserve our strict no-fabrication rule we show only the live spot price plus the on-file fundamentals below — extended historical data will be added once a verified source is wired in.
Latest tracked price: $1,945 per USD/t (as of 2026-05-03).
Lead is a dense, soft metal that has been used for millennia. Today it is primarily used in lead-acid batteries for vehicles and backup power systems. Despite environmental concerns, lead remains essential for energy storage and radiation shielding.
Lead-acid batteries remain the dominant technology for automotive starting and grid backup power, with recycling rates exceeding 99%. Demand is driven primarily by Lead-acid automotive batteries, Backup power and UPS systems, Radiation shielding in medical facilities. Supply is concentrated in China, Australia, United States, so output disruptions or trade-policy shifts in those countries are the main long-run drivers of Lead prices.
The latest tracked lead price is $1,945 per USD/t. Live spot prices are shown on the Lead live-price page.
A long-term annual-average series for lead is not yet published on Critical Minerals HQ. We surface only the live spot price and on-file fundamentals to avoid presenting unverified historical changes.
A long-term annual-average series for lead is not yet published on Critical Minerals HQ. We surface only the live spot price and on-file fundamentals to avoid presenting unverified historical changes.
A long-term annual-average series for lead is not yet published on Critical Minerals HQ. We surface only the live spot price and on-file fundamentals to avoid presenting unverified historical changes.
Lead-acid batteries remain the dominant technology for automotive starting and grid backup power, with recycling rates exceeding 99%. Demand is driven primarily by Lead-acid automotive batteries, Backup power and UPS systems, Radiation shielding in medical facilities. Supply is concentrated in China, Australia, United States, so output disruptions or trade-policy shifts in those countries are the main long-run drivers of Lead prices.