Chinese silicon metal prices edge down
2023-03-03 08:21:07 [Print]
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 3 Mar 23 - Discouraged by the slow demand, the current mainstream prices of silicon metal 4-4-1 in China edged down by RMB200/t (USD29/t) to RMB17,800-18,300/t (USD2,577-2,649/t) delivered to main port from early last week. Given the high production cost but sufficient supply, insiders predict the mainstream prices of silicon metal 4-4-1 in China would still soften next week.
A producer in Yunnan disclosed that he sold 60t of silicon metal 4-4-1 at RMB17,600/t (USD2,548/t) delivered to Kunming, which equals to RMB17,900/t (USD2,591/t) delivered to Huangpu this week, while he last sold 30t at RMB17,800/t (USD2,577/t) to Kunming early last week. "The demand from exporter and silicon powder plants remains sluggish, and I could sell one truckload every two days in early February but only one truckload every week since late February," disclosed the producer on Thursday. He said his production cost hits around RMB17,300-17,500/t (USD2,504-2,533/t) EXW D/P, and he would hold prices firm next week and predicts the mainstream prices of silicon metal 4-4-1 in China keep softly stable upon the high production cost and the weak demand.
With an annual production capacity of 18,000t of silicon metal, the producer plans to produce around 1,200t in March with two of its two furnaces of 12,500kVA in operation, in line with last month, holding around 500t in stock. The producer outputted about 15,000t in total last year and about 2,000t by far this year.
A trader in Fujian revealed that he bought 90t of silicon metal 4-4-1 at RMB17,800/t (USD2,577/t) delivered to Huangpu from a supplier who insisted on RMB18,000/t (USD2,606/t) early last week. "Over half of my suppliers could give the discount of RMB100-200/t (USD14-29/t) this week dragged by the sluggish demand, and most of them didn't want to mark prices down further strengthened by the high production cost, but I think price of silicon metal 4-4-1 still have some room to go down upon the heavy stocks in China," disclosed the trader on Thursday.
Based on a regular monthly trading volume of 300t of silicon metal, the trader expects to sell around 200t in March, almost unchanged from last month, holding no stocks. The trader exported about 3,000t in total last year and about 500t by far this year.
A producer in Yunnan disclosed that he sold 60t of silicon metal 4-4-1 at RMB17,600/t (USD2,548/t) delivered to Kunming, which equals to RMB17,900/t (USD2,591/t) delivered to Huangpu this week, while he last sold 30t at RMB17,800/t (USD2,577/t) to Kunming early last week. "The demand from exporter and silicon powder plants remains sluggish, and I could sell one truckload every two days in early February but only one truckload every week since late February," disclosed the producer on Thursday. He said his production cost hits around RMB17,300-17,500/t (USD2,504-2,533/t) EXW D/P, and he would hold prices firm next week and predicts the mainstream prices of silicon metal 4-4-1 in China keep softly stable upon the high production cost and the weak demand.
With an annual production capacity of 18,000t of silicon metal, the producer plans to produce around 1,200t in March with two of its two furnaces of 12,500kVA in operation, in line with last month, holding around 500t in stock. The producer outputted about 15,000t in total last year and about 2,000t by far this year.
A trader in Fujian revealed that he bought 90t of silicon metal 4-4-1 at RMB17,800/t (USD2,577/t) delivered to Huangpu from a supplier who insisted on RMB18,000/t (USD2,606/t) early last week. "Over half of my suppliers could give the discount of RMB100-200/t (USD14-29/t) this week dragged by the sluggish demand, and most of them didn't want to mark prices down further strengthened by the high production cost, but I think price of silicon metal 4-4-1 still have some room to go down upon the heavy stocks in China," disclosed the trader on Thursday.
Based on a regular monthly trading volume of 300t of silicon metal, the trader expects to sell around 200t in March, almost unchanged from last month, holding no stocks. The trader exported about 3,000t in total last year and about 500t by far this year.
