GUANGZHOU, Dec 7 (SMM) – After consolidating at lows in the first quarter of 2019, silicon prices are likely to climb in the second and third quarters and to fall in the fourth quarter, said Yang Xiaoting, SMM senior analyst.

Yang expects Huangpu port prices of 553# silicon, which did not undergo oxygen-refining, to move in a tight range of 10,500-12,500 yuan/mt in 2019.

In December 2018, silicon may seek a bottom in price with the spread between 553# silicon with and without being oxygen-refined narrowing, Yang told the delegates at 2018 SMM Aluminium-Silicon Summit in Guangzhou, Guangdong province on Thursday December 6.

In 2019, the shutdown of obsolete capacity would accelerate and the industry concentration would improve, Yang believes. She also expects a large amount of new capacity across downstream industries.

Silicon supply surplus across the markets would widen next year while high social inventories would hamper purchasing enthusiasm among buyers, Yang added.