SMM Output For Silicon Metal In July And Forecast For August

SHANGHAI, Aug 14 (SMM) –

SMM data showed that the domestic silicon metal output stood at 282,800 mt in July, up 6.7% MoM and 11.3% YoY. From January to July 2023, the cumulative silicon metal production was 1.9781 million mt, with a YoY increase of 1.4%.

Entering the rainy season, Yunnan resumed production in batches from late June to early July. The operating rate doubled to around 80%, and the monthly output increased by more than 40,000 mt from June. The large-scale resumption of production by Yunnan silicon enterprises drove the national operating rate to rise. However, the other two main production areas, Xinjiang and Sichuan, saw different degrees of reduction. In Sichuan, power rationing in some areas and production restrictions during the Universiade have led to production stoppage in some factories.

In August, the operating rate in Yunnan reached a high level, and the affected production capacity in Sichuan gradually resumed. The major factories in Xinjiang have accelerated their maintenance progress and also have plans to resume production. The remaining idle production capacity in Xinjiang is also under the resumption plans. In terms of new production capacity, projects of Xinjiang GCL Green Energy Co., Ltd., and Ningxia East Hope New Energy Co., Ltd have resumed production during July and August. On the whole, the supply will rise steadily in August, output estimated at about 300,000 mt.