China's Silicon Metal Export Prices Weaken

Due to weak overseas demand, China's mainstream export price for 4-4-1 grade silicon metal currently hovers at $1,540-1,580 per MT FOB China, untaxed. With overseas buyers adopting a wait-and-see attitude, industry insiders expect the mainstream export price for 4-4-1 silicon metal in China to weaken this week.

A Fujian-based exporter is currently offering 4-4-1 silicon metal at $1,550 per MT FOB China, untaxed, with a willingness to concede up to $10 per MT. This price remains unchanged from early last week, and no inquiries have been received today. The exporter revealed, "Due to the lack of inquiries, I proactively reached out to clients starting last week, but they all indicated that they had no purchasing intentions for now, citing bearish views on the Chinese market." The exporter further added that most of their overseas clients are not making purchases this month, although they did make purchases last December. Their most recent order was around mid-month, selling approximately 50 MTs at $1,540 per MT. The exporter predicts that, weighed down by weak overseas demand, China's mainstream export price for 4-4-1 silicon metal will see a slight decline this week. The exporter’s regular monthly trade volume is around 300 MTs, with December exports totaling approximately 100 MTs—half the volume of the previous month—and currently holds no inventory.

A Henan-based trader is offering 4-4-1 silicon metal at $1,550 per MT FOB China, untaxed, with a bottom price of $1,540 per MT, unchanged from early last week. The trader stated, "Since last week, we’ve only received inquiries from three customers, most of whom decided to delay purchases after inquiring due to a wait-and-see approach to the market." The trader added that later last week, they completed a transaction for about 25 MTs at $1,540 per MT. The trader expects that weak overseas sentiment will continue to weigh on China's mainstream export price for 4-4-1 silicon metal this week. The trader's regular monthly trade volume is around 500 MTs, with December exports totaling approximately 300 MTs—a decrease of about 200 MTs compared to the previous month—and currently holds an inventory of about 200 MTs.