AM Insight: Green silicon carbide powder producers should diversify products
2012-03-05 09:16:34 [Print]
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 5 Mar 12 – In the past three years, enterprises invested to produce green silicon carbide powder which was mainly used in production of silicon wafer in PV industry, and the total capacity has increased to about 400,000tpy by the end of 2011. The extravagant profit time has passed away along with reduction of subsidy in European countries and America. It is the time for powder producers to diversify their products and find more sales channels and downstream consumers. Asian Metal analyzes the following industries as a suggestion.
In abrasive industry, green silicon carbide sands are major raw materials of grinding wheels and abrasive cloth. Grinding wheels are usually used in automobile manufacturing and house decoration. In 2012, it is estimated that the production and sales of automobile may keep the same level as it was in 2013. The total quantity in 2011 was 13 million. The consumption in automobile will keep a considerable amount in 2012. With house price continuing going down this year, inflexible demand will increase and the decoration market is expected to get better. Therefore, the abrasive market ought to be better than last year.
Some producers can consider developing markets in grinding wheel and cloth manufacturers.
In semi-conductor industry, green silicon carbide powder is the ideal slicing material, but the market is withering along with declining of global economy. The consumption in this field is usually very small and only a few domestic producers supply powder to semi-conductor producers. It is not a recommended field to run into.
In ceramics industry, green silicon carbide is used as raw materials and abrasive materials. It is expected that the operating rate of ceramics producers will recover from the second quarter, and the total outputs may be slightly lower than that in 2011. Some ceramics producers consume green silicon carbide and others consume black silicon carbide. The price of green silicon carbide has dropped much, so some consumers may consider replacing black silicon carbide or improving the consumption of green silicon carbide.
As abrasive raw materials, the consumption of green silicon carbide sands in other industries, such as stone processing, metal polishing and resin polishing will keep stable generally, because these industries would not be affected seriously by economy depression.
Green silicon carbide powder is also ideal raw materials of high-temperature resistant products, such as sealer, jet nozzle, and so on.
Some of Chinese green silicon carbide producers have began diversifying their products on order to survive the tough time. It is expected that the PV market will get better from next year.
In abrasive industry, green silicon carbide sands are major raw materials of grinding wheels and abrasive cloth. Grinding wheels are usually used in automobile manufacturing and house decoration. In 2012, it is estimated that the production and sales of automobile may keep the same level as it was in 2013. The total quantity in 2011 was 13 million. The consumption in automobile will keep a considerable amount in 2012. With house price continuing going down this year, inflexible demand will increase and the decoration market is expected to get better. Therefore, the abrasive market ought to be better than last year.
Some producers can consider developing markets in grinding wheel and cloth manufacturers.
In semi-conductor industry, green silicon carbide powder is the ideal slicing material, but the market is withering along with declining of global economy. The consumption in this field is usually very small and only a few domestic producers supply powder to semi-conductor producers. It is not a recommended field to run into.
In ceramics industry, green silicon carbide is used as raw materials and abrasive materials. It is expected that the operating rate of ceramics producers will recover from the second quarter, and the total outputs may be slightly lower than that in 2011. Some ceramics producers consume green silicon carbide and others consume black silicon carbide. The price of green silicon carbide has dropped much, so some consumers may consider replacing black silicon carbide or improving the consumption of green silicon carbide.
As abrasive raw materials, the consumption of green silicon carbide sands in other industries, such as stone processing, metal polishing and resin polishing will keep stable generally, because these industries would not be affected seriously by economy depression.
Green silicon carbide powder is also ideal raw materials of high-temperature resistant products, such as sealer, jet nozzle, and so on.
Some of Chinese green silicon carbide producers have began diversifying their products on order to survive the tough time. It is expected that the PV market will get better from next year.
Silicon Carbide Green 98.5%min 10-30cm EXW China
Unit:RMB/mt
China green silicon carbide producers' output statistics by province by month
Unit: mt
