SHANGHAI, Mar. 9 (SMM) – Utilization rate at 120 Chinese silicon metal producers fell to 28.03% in February, down 0.04 percentage point year-on-year, Shanghai Metals Market survey shows.  

The decline in February’s rate, though up 2.13 percentage points month-on-month, was due mainly to sluggish prices and the holiday factor, SMM says.  

Production at silicon metal producers in Yunnan, Sichuan, Hunan and Chongqing all dropped markedly, but increased in Fujian due to reopening from maintenance in the region, according to SMM survey. 

Utilization rate is expected to inch up to 29% in March, SMM foresees, because of production restarts after the holiday.