Resumption of production in Yunnan and Sichuan accounted for the rally in April’s operating rates. Silicon plants in Nujiang of Yunnan and Ngawa and Leshan of Sichuan reopened part of their capacity ahead of the arrival of rainy session, and this offset some capacity curtailment in Xinjiang and Chongqing due to losses and tight ore supply. 

Last month, the capacity in operation reduced in Xinjiang, Sichuan and Shaanxi. Continued raw materials shortage kept major silicon plants in Xinjiang from resuming the capacity that has been shut down since February. Meanwhile, falling silicon prices prompted some medium-scale producers to cut output or undergo maintenance in the second half of March. 

Overall inventories of silicon metal remained in a downward trend as of February 28, but inventory at ports increased as the resumption of motor traffic in south China accelerated the shipments of...

The volume of silicon deliveries from warehouses at ports rebounded this week as export trades picked up

The rate rose 1.7 percentage points from Sep to 46.9%, with production at 243,000 mt

Stocks increased1,000 mt from a week ago to 93,000 mt as of Oct 25

SMM sees the average operating rate edging lower to 44.7% in Oct

Stocks decreased by 2,000 mt from a week ago to stand at 60,000 mt as of Aug 23

A pick-up in silicon prices improved margins at silicon producers

As of Jul 11, 553# silicon that did not undergo oxygen-refining traded at 9,700 yuan/mt in Kunming