Silicone

The transaction price of DMC ceased to rise and turned to be stable. Some silicone monomer producers restarted plants after overhaul. The downstream customers almost completed stocking before the Spring Festival holiday (starting February 9) . The price of silicon metal was down continuously, those of methyl chloride and methanol rose. The production cost of DMC was raised. In this week, the prices of OH polymer, gum, HCR and silicone fluid were in stability due to the steady price of raw materials. As a growing number of downstream players will start the Spring Festival holiday from late January, the silicone monomer producers have stronger passion for selling goods. The silicone market price is projected to be slightly low in the short term.

Fumed silica

This week, the domestic fumed silica market ran well. The enterprises offered steady quotations, the actual transaction price rose slightly. The weekly average price of monomethyltrichlorosilane (MTCS) was up. The price of silicon tetrachloride (STC) was unchanged. The producers of RTV rubber and HCR increased demand of fumed silica before the Spring Festival holiday  (starting February 9), with the growing transaction volume. The fumed silica market price is slated to rise steadily amid the slightly rising prices of MTCS and STC, and an increase in the fumed silica demand in customers.

Silicon metal 

The price of silicon metal kept falling this week, due to the decreasing demand before the Spring Festival (on Feb. 10). For the supply, this January saw the supply decrease from the producers in northwest China. Those in southwest China had low operation rate. To the demand, two big silicone monomer producers in Inner Mongolia overhauled their plants, slightly lowered demand for silicon metal. The price of polysilicon rose, driven by the high power cost and the structural shortage of N-type polysilicon. New capacity of polysilicon was released, demanding more silicon metal. Aluminium alloy companies ran normally, buying silicon metal on rigid needs.  

Polysilicon 

This week, the price of N-type polysilicon increased slightly, while that of P-type one stabilized. Five big N-type polysilicon enterprises signed new orders, and five P-type polysilicon firms also had new orders with less transaction volume. The polysilicon companies set about negotiating for orders in February 2024. The number of enquiry from downstream sectors increased. Currently, the structural shortage of N-type polysilicon drove its price up further. The price of P-type polysilicon showed a certain degree of rise, but the upward trend may be short-lived.