Low-Grade Silicon Metal Prices To Still Outperform High-Grade Ones

China's high carbon ferrochrome (HC FeCr) imports totalled approximately 157,610 tonnes in August 2026, up 18.7% month-on-month from around 132,812 tonnes in July, per Chinese customs data. The standout development was South Africa's return to the supply mix, with shipments of approximately 50,316 tonnes in August, a sharp reversal from zero recorded in July. This immediately placed South Africa as China's second-largest HC FeCr supplier for the month, accounting for roughly 31.9% of total imports. Kazakhstan remained China's largest HC FeCr supplier in August, though volumes eased to approximately 73,817 tonnes, down 12.6% MoM from July's approximately 84,429 tonnes. With South Africa's re-entry diluting the overall mix, Kazakhstan's share of total imports fell to roughly 46.8%, down from around 63.6% in July. Zimbabwe's shipments declined sharply to approximately 8,323 tonnes in August, down 63.7% MoM from around 22,901 tonnes in July, with its import share contracting to roughly 5.3% from 17.2%. India's shipments eased to approximately 20,879 tonnes in August, down 12.6% MoM from around 23,876 tonnes in July, with its share of total imports slipping to roughly 13.3% from 18.0%. Imports from other origins rose to approximately 4,274 tonnes in August, up sharply from around 1,607 tonnes in July, lifting their share to roughly 2.7% from 1.2%. Overall, August's data marks a notable rebalancing of China's HC FeCr supply base, with South Africa's re-entry offsetting pullbacks from Kazakhstan, Zimbabwe, and India to drive the month's overall import growth.

[August silicone exports up MoM, imports down MoM] Customs data shows that in exports, China's exports of primary-form polysiloxane (silicone) stood at 39,100 mt in August 2026, up 5.25% MoM but down 18.75% YoY. In imports, China's imports of primary-form polysiloxane (silicone) stood at 5,900 mt in August 2026, down 15.02% MoM and down 18.28% YoY.

Amnesty International’s research briefing published on 21 September documents alleged forced labour, arbitrary detention and other abuses by M23 fighters against artisanal miners near Rubaya in eastern DRC. It also reports coltan trafficking from M23-controlled areas into Rwanda. These are Amnesty’s investigative findings; the briefing does not establish a verified volume of trafficked coltan.​ Amnesty called on countries and companies to stop purchasing coltan and gold from Rwanda until its government demonstrates that trafficked DRC material is no longer entering supply chains. The call increases scrutiny of tantalum sourcing and traceability. It is an NGO recommendation, not an enacted trade ban.