SHANGHAI, Mar 9 (SMM) — SMM data showed that China's industrial silicon output stood at 202,000 mt in February.

The output in Xinjiang, the main production area, decreased more than 10,000 mt from January due to power station maintenance in February, and the seasonal production capacity of Yunnan and Sichuan provinces decreased by nearly 9,000 mt month on month. In addition, almost all production capacity in Guizhou and Guangxi provinces was suspended in early February due to rising electricity prices. The production capacity supply in areas without power supply restrictions increased slightly from the previous month. For example, silicon plants in Shaanxi and Hunan increased or resumed production due to relatively high silicon prices and improved profitability. Due to their small production capacity, the overall supply supplement was limited.

It is still in the dry season of Yunnan and Sichuan now, which are the main producing areas. It is expected that the supply in the southwest producing areas will keep stable in March. The Mengxi Silicon Plant in Inner Mongolia stopped production in early March and its output decreased month on month. The main increase in the supply of industrial silicon nationwide is in the northern region, mainly due to the increase in the operation load of the silicon plants after the completion of the Xinjiang power plant maintenance. SMM expects China's industrial silicon output to stand at 210,000-220,000 mt in March.