[Ferro-Alloys.com]The price of silicon metal in China has begun taking an upward turn since Chinese New Year finished, and still continued rising. The price of 5.5.3 low-grade product is up by CNY900 - CNY1,000 per ton from the end of February and the price of 4.4.1 grade is also up by CNY700 - CNY800. The operating rate in the main producing areas like Yunnan and Sichuan during March is reported to be less than 10%, but the demand in China is firm and a feeling of tight supply has been growing in the market. Many of the producers in Yunnan and Sichuan are scheduled to restart the plant during June to July, and there is a possibility the feeling of the tight supply in the market will continue for the time being. Some market participants anticipate the price to continue rising during April.

In Japan, in keeping with a price increase in China, both offer and contract prices have gone up drastically. The contract price is up by US$190 - US$210 from the end of February.

• [Editor:tianyawei]