Lead Turning Into Gold
By John W. Rymark
Head of Quality Affairs, Kaltron
As you know, we don’t bother our customers very often with emails. When we do it’s usually worth the time to take a look. Something has just come up that we felt was important to pass along to our loyal and valued customers.
Chinese industry is very busy turning Lead in Gold. Well not literally, though by this time we’ve all heard about China’s automobile battery production for overseas and domestic sales. The lion’s share of the world’s available lead is going into automobile batteries. The shell manufacturers can not compete with the battery manufacturers for best lead pricing. For the past three years or so we’ve watched this play out and hoped that the rising price of lead would slow or better yet level off. It has only gotten worse.
B&P Italy has just informed us of another upward surge in lead prices. As before, there is nothing the world’s shell manufacturers can do, but to raise pricing on their shells. We had the price of the next couple of containers of shells locked in, or so we thought. Italy just informed us that soaring lead prices makes previously quoted pricing impossible. Our next containers of shells, at higher pricing, will arrive next month. We’ve got stock at current pricing while it lasts. Though when our current stock is exhausted, we will have to increase our pricing to keep pace with what we have to pay for the shells.
As the prices continue to increase there will be some shooters who will give up accuracy, best patterning, for lower priced shells. They’ll say the only way they can afford to continue their sport shooting is for them to buy cheaper shells. Personally, I’d rather make one or two fewer outings a year and use the best equipment and supplies to better enjoy the individual experience. As I age and have watched persons younger than I succumb to being on the wrong side of the life expectancy bell-curve, I try to make each outing the best that it can be.
I am writing to let our regular customers know what’s happening with the price of shells, why, and to give you an opportunity to save some money. Believe me, stocking up right now at current pricing for this fall and next year’s shooting will be well worth your time.
Thank you for your business. Good luck and good shooting.
John
