China’s Chongqing to See Utilization Rate at Silicon Metal Producers to Fall to 50% in Jan.

SHANGHAI, Jan. 21 (SMM) – Utilization rates at silicon metal producers are expected to drop to around 50% in January in Chongqing, Shanghai Metals Market foresees.  

Anemic demand and weak prices are mainly blamed for low utilization rates at silicon metal producers in Chongqing, a major producing region of oxygen-free silicon metal, SMM survey shows. 

The January’s rate, a drop of 0.21 percentage point from December’s, is expected to slide further to around 23% in February due to production suspension for the Chinese New Year holiday in mid February. 

Low utilization rates in Chongqing and production halts in Yunnan and Sichuan will help ease the current high inventories of #553 silicon metal, SMM expects.