Production cut benefits materialize as futures and spot trends diverge; silicon metal prices remain in a stalemate [SMM Silicon Industry Weekly Review]
[Production cut benefits materialize, spot and futures diverge, silicon metal prices in stalemate]: This week, spot silicon metal prices consolidated on a strong note. As of September 3, SMM oxygen-blown #553 silicon in east China was at 9,400-9,500 yuan/mt, up 50 yuan/mt WoW, #441 silicon was at 9,500-9,700 yuan/mt, up 50 yuan/mt WoW, and #3303 silicon was at 10,100-10,300 yuan/mt, up 50 yuan/mt WoW. In the futures market, the SI2611 contract moved sideways in the 8,650-8,865 yuan/mt range this week, shot up to 8,865 yuan/mt early in the week before pulling back, and closed at 8,735 yuan/mt on Thursday, down 70 yuan/mt WoW. In terms of market quotes and transactions, after production cuts at large plants in Xinjiang were implemented, silicon enterprises increased their efforts to hold prices firm, low-priced cargoes in the market decreased, silicon enterprises quoted firmly, and some suppliers raised quotes slightly. Affected by long positions taking profits and macro sentiment, silicon metal futures prices pulled back weakly, wait-and-see sentiment in the market intensified, market transactions remained need-based, and the price center consolidated at highs.