Silicon Metal = In the Chinese domestic market, the price of low-grade products as a whole is down by CNY400 - CNY900 per ton from the end of June. This is because, in addition to the price being down by decreased production cost owing to a full-scale application of an electricity rate for a full-water season in the main producing area, the consumption of silicon metal predominantly in the Aluminium industry is low. 

 

In Japan, with the rebound of the increase in June delivery to the customers, the trading for deliveries during August to September continues to be thin. As the downward pressure on the price is strong and is accepted by the shippers which are energetic in sales by way of reducing the offer prices, the contract price was down by US$110 - US$120 per ton from the end of June.

 

For a reference, the business talk to conclude a contract for deliveries during October to December becomes active, and several large-scale tenders are scheduled to be issued in early August.

 

Ferro-silicon = In China, the decrease in the supply volume due to prevalent shutdown by small and medium-sized producers is going on, but the consumption in the steel mills and the magnesium metal industry is low and the demand and supply balance is in a state of slightly excessive supply. The main price meant for domestic consumption is down by CNY50 from the end of June. Because the tension between China and Vietnam increased again, the quantity of roundabout products flowing into Vietnam across the border seems to be decreasing.

 

As to the regularly-exported products meant for Japan, Chinese producers still wish to offer the price at around US$1,400 per ton, but the customers in Japan have a resistance to a price hike because there is neither a big change in their consumption nor a feeling of in-hand stocks being short.

 

The price of products distributed in the market was buoyed by the decreased inflow volume of Chinese cheap products and the decreased number of cheap products. The contract price was slightly up from the middle of July and got to the same level as the end of June.

 

On the one hand, both contract and offer prices for Russian products remained unchanged from the end of June.