Production at Yunnan silicon plants lacklustre on dipping profits

SHANGHAI, Jun 28 (SMM) – Silicon producers in Yunnan province showed less enthusiasm in production as silicon prices have been in a downward trend for over a month, SMM learned on Thursday June 28.

In fact, prices are approaching the costs of production of these plants. 

As of Thursday, #553 non-oxygen silicon metal traded at 11,300 yuan/mt at Kunming port in Yunnan, down 100 yuan/mt from the start of this week, and down 900 yuan/mt from May 25, when the price began to dip. 

Traded price of #551 silicon metal in Kunming declined 50 yuan/mt from Wednesday to stand at 11,800-12,000 yuan/mt on June 28. This was 700 yuan/mt lower from that on May 23. 

Given lower profits, some silicon producers in Dehong and Nujiang area in Yunnan reduced the load of their operating furnaces. They also have no immediate plans to start the unfired ones, SMM learned.