Lead Price in 2018
In 2018, the price of lead averaged $2,240 per tonne, down 3.2% from the year before. This page covers the 2018 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that lead would be worth in today's dollars.
2018 Average
$2,240
LME annual average, USD/tonne
Change vs 2017
-3.2%
from $2,315 in 2017
What happened to the lead price in 2018
Lead averaged $2,240 per tonne in 2018, down 3.2% from $2,315 the year before.
Lead traded in a broad $1,800 to $2,400 range through the 2010s, supported by battery demand but capped by ample supply.
Adjusted for inflation, lead's 2018 average of $2,240 equals about $2,875 in today's dollars. The conversion uses US Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U annual averages, so treat it as a close approximation rather than an exact figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the price of lead in 2018?
What is a 2018 lead price worth in today's dollars?
Annual averages are World Bank and LME lead prices per tonne in US dollars (LME cash and settlement basis). The 2025 figure is preliminary. Where daily data exists, the per-year high, low, and close come from MetalCharts historical data. Inflation adjustments use BLS CPI-U annual averages.