SHANGHAI, May 10 (SMM) – SMM data showed that China's silicon metal output stood at 197,000 mt in April, down 2.4% or 5,000 mt from the previous month. The increase in maintenance capacity in Xinjiang and Yunnan, the main production areas, affected the output in April.

Electricity prices in Yunnan Nujiang during the flood season were undecided, and the start time of the local silicon plants was repeatedly postponed. Although Sichuan entered the average flow period, only a few silicon plants opened up. It is expected that the large-scale production resumption time of Yunnan and Sichuan silicon plants will be after the full arrival of the flood season in June, and the restoration of maintenance and production capacity in Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia will also be reflected in June.

China's silicon metal output is expected to increase slightly in May due to the increasing production in Sichuan and the increase in the number of production days in May.