The Lisbon-based group said provisional data it had received indicated stock levels fell by 8kt over the same period.
However, global lead mine production increased by 2.3%, which the group said was primarily a consequence of increases in Kazakhstan, South Africa and Turkey, which were partially balanced by a reduction in the US.
Global lead metal production rose 2.2%, mainly as a result of higher output in China, India and South Korea. But output in Bulgaria and Italy fell sharply.
The usage of refined lead metal increased by a modest 0.3% over the period as rises in China, India, Mexico and the UK were largely offset by decreases in the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy and Turkey.
Meanwhile, Chinese imports of lead contained in lead concentrates rose by 44% to 217kt. Net exports of refined lead metal totalled 50kt, an increase of nearly 18% compared to the same period of 2022.
