Lead, one of the periodic table’s ordinary metals, was used thousands of years ago by the Romans for aqueducts, tank linings and water pipes. Valued for its malleability and resistance to corrosion, lead and lead-rich pewter were used also in the making of cooking pots, kettles and tableware [see also Top 7 Strangest Commodity Futures].
Lead’s malleability and resistance to corrosion continue to make it a useful metal today for such things as roof flashings and cladding, but due to now-known hazards associated with lead, many of its former uses have been retired. Today, lead’s real strength lies in its chemical properties, which make it an important element in power and protection applications, including radiation protection (in hospitals, laboratories and nuclear installations), underwater power and communications cables, vehicle batteries and emergency power supplies.
Price Drivers
More than three million metric tons of lead ores are mined yearly, with a market value of about $1 billion. The world market for refined lead is close to $15 billion. Secondary production – where lead is recovered through the recycling process – accounts for more than half of lead production worldwide. The United States is the world’s largest lead recycler [for more lead news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
China is the leader in worldwide lead mining, production and use. The vast majority of lead is used in batteries, followed by rolled and extruded products, lead compounds, shot and lead alloys.
Several factors influence lead prices. One is demand from emerging market economies such as China and India. Lead acid batteries are used to power cars, trucks, buses, electric bicycles, electric vehicles and hybrids. As demand for these products increases, so will the demand for lead. The demand can also grow as emerging economies improve and expand services such as hospitals (where lead acid batteries are used for back-up power supply), telephone exchanges, mobile phone networks and public buildings.
Global supply also drives the price of lead. Some analysts have predicted that demand will exceed supply, leading to a deficit year in 2013 (the first since 2007). As with most commodities, lead prices are largely driven by the delicate balance between supply and demand [see also The Ten Commandments of Commodity Investing].
Lead ETFs
A variety of exchange-traded products are available that provide investors with exposure to lead.
- iPath Dow Jones-UBS Lead Subindex Total Return ETN (LD): The iPath Dow Jones-UBS Lead Subindex Total Return ETN tracks the Dow Jones-UBS Lead Subindex Total Return Index. The index reflects the potential returns from a single futures contract on lead. With a fund inception date of June 24, 2008, LD has an expense ratio of 0.75%, total net assets of $3.53 million, and a three-month average daily volume of 3,078.
- United States Metals Index Fund (USMI): A recently launched exchanged-traded security, the United States Metals Index Fund ETF provides exposure to a basket of metals futures contracts, including lead. It tracks the SummerHaven Dynamic Metals Index Total Return (the “Metals Index”), designed to reflect the performance of a group of ten metals futures contracts selected on a monthly basis. With a fund inception date of June 19, 2012, USMI has an expense ratio of 0.70%, total net assets of $3.59 million [see also 3 Reasons Why Gold Is Overvalued].
- iPath Pure Beta Lead ETN (LEDD): The iPath Pure Beta Lead ETN provides investors with exposure to the Barclays Lead Pure Beta Total Return Index. The index reflects the potential returns of unleveraged lead futures contracts with varying expiration dates. The index is comprised of a single futures contract of lead; however, during the rollover period the index may have two separate futures contracts. With a fund inception date of April 20, 2011, LEDD has an expense ratio of 0.75%, total net assets of $3.53 million and an average daily trading volume under 2,000 shares.
- ETRACS CMCI Industrial Metals Total Return (UBM): ETRACS CMCI Industrial Metals Total Return exchange-traded note provides some exposure to lead. It tracks the UBS Bloomberg CMCI Industrials Metals Index Total Return (the “Index”). The Index measures the collateralized returns from a basket comprised of six industrial metals futures contracts diversified across five constant maturities ranging from three months to three years. Metals include lead, copper, high grade copper, zinc, aluminum and nickel. With a fund inception date of April 1, 2008, UBM has an expense ratio of 0.65%, total net assets of $5.0 million and an average daily trading volume of 2,904 [see also Doomsday Special: 7 Hard Asset Investments You Can Hold in Your Hand].
Far From Ordinary
Lead’s chemical properties make it useful for a variety of power and protection applications. Lead is traded on the London Metal Exchange under the ticker symbol PB (the same as it appears on the periodic table). A variety of exchange-traded products also provide investors with exposure to this industrial metal.
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Disclosure: No positions at time of writing.
