[Ferro-alloys.com] Metallurgical Si metal prices continued to decline while chemical Si metal prices remained firm in mid August in China. As low grade Si metal prices kept declining, foreign dealers took sideline attitude toward purchases. Si metal of other grades kept steady in China.

Until the middle of August 2014, quotations were as follows: Kunming delivered price for Si 553#, RMB12,800/mt(USD2,082/mt) and Si441#, RMB13,100-13,200/mt(USD2,130-2,147/mt); Tianjin port price for Si421#, RMB14,000-14,200/mt(USD2,277-2,309/mt) and Si411#, RMB14,200-14,400/mt(USD2,309-2,342/mt; much higher prices of Si2202# and Si3303#.

Export market of Si metal: export prices declined in mid August 15, 2014. Si553# was USD2,000-2,040/mt, Si441# was 2,200/mt, Si421# was USD2,310-2,330/mt,Si 411# was USD2,330-2,350/mt, Si3,303# was USD2,320-2,340/mt and Si2,202# was USD2,500-2,550/mt FOB.

Affected by tight supply of Brazilian and Australian Si metals, the US silicon metal prices increased to 144-147cents/lb and European silicon metal prices kept stable. Q3 was the depressed season for Si metal in Japan, Japanese Si metal consumers reduced production and this led to reduced purchase volumes of Chinese silicon metals. Chinese Si metal kept declining from July 2014 and Japanese dealers were hesitating about price determination of Q4 purchases.

Analysis: Si metal producers kept high operation rate and the supply was rich in China. Si metal dealers and consumers took a wait-and-see attitude towards purchases. Si metals of metallurgical grades were likely to keep steady and higher grade materials were expected to keep firm in later period.

• [Editor:Phillip.Feng]