SHANGHAI, Apr 25 (SMM) – Despite the approaching rainy season, silicon producers in Yunnan appeared to have little interest in resuming operations as prices of silicon metal continued to fall.

SMM assessments showed that Kunming prices of 553# which undertook or did not undertake oxygen-refining have been on the decline so far in April.

The price of non-oxygen-refined #553 stood at around 10,100 yuan/mt on Thursday April 25, while that of oxygen-refined materials came in at 10,800-10,900 yuan/mt.

Operating rates across silicon producers in Yunnan stood lower than the same period last year, showed an SMM survey. Some plants have not begun to prepare for the resumption, while they would purchase raw materials, examine and repair furnaces in the same period of previous years.

There are only three producers that have resumed across the province, and others told SMM that they will decide whether to restart, based on the performance of silicon prices in June.