The dry season came in China’s southern areas such as Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, which drove silicon metal prices. Delivered prices of Si553# was RMB11,800-12,000/mt(USD 1,936-1,969/mt), Si441# was RMB12,500-12,700/mt(USD 2,051-2,084/mt) and Si3303# was RMB13,200-13,500/mt(USD2,166-2,215/mt) at Kunming. The export prices were as follows: Si553# USD2,000-2,040/mt FOB, 441# USD2,100-2,140/mt FOB, 3303# USD2,220-2,260/mt FOB, 2202# USD2,280-2,320/mt FOB at Huangpu port.
Many smelters stopped production in China’s southern areas in dry season. Two thirds of Yunnan Si smelters stopped production till the end of this month, which caused very few spot supplies and drove Si price up. Due to high electricity cost of low-grade silicon in dry season, the sustaining smelters mostly produced high-grade silicon metal and the number of smelters which kept production was small. Foreign dealers showed intense sidelined attitude toward purchasing silicon metal in dry season, thus deals being less than usual.
Si price ran smoothly on American market. It was ￠125-129/1b in America and rose to €1,960-2,020/mt from €1,940-2,000/mt in Europe.
With increasing numbers of smelters being prepared to stop production in southern areas, and the power costs would increase correspondingly, Si price was likely to rise further in future.