Silicon Metal Prices Extend Gains, But Additional Upward Momentum May Somehow Wane

Market review: Traded prices of silicon metal kept hiking this week, most notably low-grade silicon. As of December 12, prices of standard 553# silicon, above-standard 553# silicon, 441# silicon, 421# silicon and 3303# silicon in East China were 14,900-15,000 yuan/mt, 15,300-15,400 yuan/mt, 15,500-15,600 yuan/mt, 16,000-16,300 yuan/mt and 15,700-15,900 yuan/mt respectively, up 400 yuan/mt or 3% WoW, up 450 yuan/mt or 2% WoW, up 300 yuan/mt or 2% WoW, up 350 yuan/mt or 2% WoW and up 100 yuan/mt or 1% WoW. Silicon price hiked this week due to two aspects. On the one hand, low-grade silicon supply remained insufficient in the market. On the other hand, recent rain, snow, cold wave weather in north China and environmental protection gave market players jitters about silicon supply.

Silicon plants actively increased offers, and most of them and traders didn’t possess much low-grade silicon inventory. Overseas buyers showed limited acceptance of steep domestic silicon price uptick, while demand from domestic buyers kept hiking. Under this circumstance, short-term silicon prices may somehow struggle to rise.