China Silicon Metal Market Weekly Review and Forecast (May 6-10)

SHANGHAI, May 13 (SMM) – Silicon metal stocks at Huangpu Port were 18,000 mt by May 10, with 5,000 mt at Hongkai warehouse, 5,000 mt at Yuehua warehouse, 5,000 mt at Wanxiong warehouse, and wharf inventories at 3,000 mt. In Yunnan, stocks at Guichu Logistics were 4,000 mt, while those at Honggui were 4,000 mt. Plus the 5,000 mt at several smaller warehouses, total inventories in Kunming were around 15,000 mt. 

 

As #553 silicon metal prices showed sharp movements recently, many aluminum alloy producers purchased cautiously and kept inventories relatively low. Domestic companies were relatively optimistic since China’s ruling of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy probe into polysilicon from Europe, US and South Korea and ruling of investigation into China’s PV products by EU and US will be announced soon in June. Thus, operating rates at trichlorosilane and silicon powder producers increased, helping push up silicon metal demand.  

 

Many silicon metal producers planned to resume operation with the approach of high-water period in Sichuan and Yunnan in late May. Some in Sichuan province already restarted production. Although the limited resumption will unlikely drive up supply immediately, the supply tightness will be eased more or less. As such, SMM expects silicon metal prices to hold steady this week with increase slowing.