Roskill - Expanding The World's Knowledge of Metals and Minerals Markets
Table of Contents
- 1. Summary
- 2. Occurrence and properties of silicon and ferrosilicon
- 3. Production processes, production costs and grades of silicon and ferrosilicon
- 4. World production data for silicon and ferrosilicon
- 5. Notes on silicon and ferrosilicon producing countries
- 6. Consumption of ferrosilicon and silicon
- 7. Uses of silicon
- 8. Uses of ferrosilicon
- 9. Analysis of international trade data for silicon and ferrosilicon
- 10. Prices and marketing of silicon and ferrosilicon
This is an abridged table of contents. Click here for the full table of contents.
Silicon and Ferrosilicon
Unprecedented rates of growth for silicon and ferrosilicon markets
In 2007, the markets for silicon and ferrosilicon were enjoying an unprecedented rate of growth, due mainly to increased demand for silicones and solar cells in the case of silicon, and to rapid expansion in global steel making in the case of ferrosilicon. Although supplied to very different markets, the prices of silicon and ferrosilicon follow very similar trends because of the similarity in production processes, and the importance of the supply and cost of power in their production. With demand for silicon in silicones expected to grow at some 10%py in coming years, as well as robust demand for aluminium-silicon alloys, overall demand should expand at about 8%py up to 2011. Demand for ferrosilicon as an alloying agent in carbon, stainless and alloy steels is at an all time high and continuing to rise, with growth rates of over 6% in world steel output. Silicon prices appeared set to remain high into 2008 despite a fall off in demand from the US automobile sector for cast aluminium silicon alloys. Chemical and electronic demand remained strong, and power availability and prices continued to limit output, particularly in Europe and North America. Antidumping duties on Chinese silicon in the USA and Europe will remain in place, further underpinning prices.
The key trends, issues and developments in the market are analysed in this major new report from Roskill. It provides a clear insight into the industry and its trends, and an authoritative analysis of the prospects for the future.
- Independent, in-depth research and analysis
- Essential market intelligence for successful business planning
- Detailed survey of production and processing in 42 countries
- Up-to-date profiles of the activities of silicon and ferrosilicon producing and processing companies, including Ferroatlantica, Globe Specialty Metals, Erdos Electrical Power and Metallurgical and JSC Kuznetsky Ferroalloys
- Forecasts for end-use consumption and world supply and demand
Report highlights
Several European and North American silicon producers are taking advantage of the extremely rapid growth in demand for high value solar grade silicon, which, although small in volume terms, provides much higher profit margins than bulk markets. World polysilicon capacity is likely to increase to more than 60ktpy by 2010, (20ktpy in China), driven by the solar energy market. Hemlock Semiconductors in the USA and Wacker Polysilicon in Germany are the principal producers.
World silicon metal capacity is of the order of 2.4Mtpy, approximately 70% of which was utilised in 2006. Globe Speciality Metals, with some 224ktpy (9% of the world total) of production capacity at plants in the USA and Brazil, is the largest producing company. Ferroatlantica, having acquired Pechiney's facilities from Alcan, has the next largest capacity with 204ktpy (8.5%) at four plants in France, one in Spain and one in South Africa. A 25ktpy project by Silicium Kazakhstan and a 100ktpy project by Ferroatlantica in China were the only new standard grade silicon projects in existence globally in 2007.
said to exist) reporting capacities ranging from less than 1ktpy to over 500ktpy. Current production levels represent a capacity utilisation rate of approximately 80%. Kuznetsky in Russia is the largest producer with 550ktpy of capacity. No new ferrosilicon projects were being planned in 2007, but both Erdos and Kuznetsky were expanding capacity to come on stream in 2008 and 2009.
With China supplying over half the world's ferrosilicon, the newly introduced export tax, power costs and domestic demand was expected to keep supplies tight and underpin prices well into 2008. Export prices for standard 75%Si grade ferrosilicon appeared likely to move above $1,000/t (Si content) in the second half of 2007, and will probably remain there throughout 2008.
Buy This Report Now
The Economics of Silicon and Ferrosilicon, 12th edition published 01/09/2007
271 pages, 124 tables and 65 figures.
ISBN 978 0 86214 540 6
Complete report price:
GBP 2400
EUR 4200
USD 4800
plus postage/packing.