Silicon Exporters Cease Operation for Chinese National Day Holiday

On March 17, the transaction of 30,000 mt of alumina was made at $527/mt FOB, which was $2/mt higher than in Indonesia on March 16. The goods will be shipped in late April. The price has risen by 39% from early February, and China’s export window has been expanded to 1,400 yuan/mt.

According to Chinese customs, China imported 2,210.82 mt of silicomanganese in November, down 73.54% MoM, and the exports stood at 7,294.16 mt, up 2.31% MoM and 447.69% YoY.

According to Chinese customs, China imported 2.25 million mt of manganese ore in November, down 12.7% MoM and 25.9% YoY, and the exports stood at 2,900 mt, surging 246.53% MoM.

According to customs data, China's aluminium extrusion exports stood at 74,400 mt in October, down 8% month on month and 4% year on year.

The silicon metals prices skyrocketed in September and started to fall after the National Day holiday in October. The prices of oxygen-free 553# silicon basically lost all the gains in September, and the prices of high-grade silicon was relatively firm.

This is a roundup of China's metals weekly inventory as of October 15.

The silicon metal prices surged broadly by over 120% in September from the previous month, with 553# silicon with oxygen leading the gains. As of September 30, 553# silicon with oxygen in east China stood at 59,000 yuan/mt, up 154% on the month. The short supply of spot amid extensive power rationing in Yunnan and Sichuan was the main reason for the short-term surge of prices. While the production costs also increased on the back of rising prices of raw materials such as clean coal, supporting the silicon metal prices as well.

Traders and downstream consumers in China’s silicon market held back from buying in May in anticipation of growing supply.

Offers of chemical-grade silicon dipped on Thursday May 17 as transactions were few

Silicon plants in north China, especially in Xinjiang, are now keener to destock after a week of slow transactions