China is considering reducing a tax rebate on refined lead exports to 5 percent from 13 percent, industry officials said on Tuesday.

Cutting the rebate would raise sellers' price demands and could weigh on China's exports of refined lead, an important metal for making batteries.

China has long granted rebates on value-added tax for some exports. For copper, zinc and tin, exporters can claim 5 percent of the export price as a rebate, down from 13 percent two years ago, the rebates were designed to encourage exports. But now the country is trying to rein in the resource-intensive metals sector and reduce exports.

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