Mineral Industry Surveys

For information, contact: Joshua Braunstein (Data)

Emily K. Schnebele, Silicon Commodity Specialist Telephone: (703) 648-7958
National Minerals Information Center Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (703) 648-4945
Email: [email protected] Internet: https://www.usgs.gov/centers/
national-minerals-information-center/mineral-industry-surveys

SILICON IN JUNE 2023

Domestic production of silicon materials in June 2023 was Prices
withheld to avoid disclosing proprietary data (table 1). Net The average U.S. spot price for silicon metal was 174.50
shipments in June 2023 were 20,100 metric tons (t), essentially cents per pound in June 2023, 9% less than the average price in
unchanged from those in May 2023 and 10% less than those in May 2023 and 55% less than the average price in June 2022.
June 2022. Ending stocks in June 2023 were 25,400 t, 8% more The average U.S. spot price for ferrosilicon, 75% grade, was
than those in May 2023. 137.75 cents per pound, 12% less than the average price in May
On a contained weight basis, total ferrosilicon imports were 2023 and 60% less than the average price in June 2022 (fig. 2,
6,610 t in June 2023, 42% less than those in May 2023 and 77% table 2). The average spot prices for ferrosilicon, 50% grade,
less than those in June 2022 (fig.1, table 4). Total silicon metal were discontinued by CRU Group in April 2022 and no other
imports, on a contained weight basis were 7,830 t in June 2023, published sources were available.
23% more than those in May 2023 and 21% more than those in 700
June 2022. EXPLANATION
600
50% ferrosilicon
Price, in cents per pound

40 500 75% ferrosilicon

EXPLANATION silicon metal
Imports, in thousand metric tons

Silicon metal 400

30 Ferrosilicon
(contained weight)

300
Column1
20 200

100
10 0

0
Month
Figure 2. Average monthly spot prices for silicon metal and ferrosilicon, 50%
Month and 75% grades, contained silicon, from June 2021 through June 2023. The
average spot prices for ferrosilicon, 50% grade, were discontinued by CRU
Figure 1. Ferrosilicon and silicon metal imports (excluding solar and
Group in April 2022. Source: CRU Group and S&P Global Platts Metals Week.
semiconductor grades) from June 2021 through June 2023. Source: U.S. Census
Bureau.
List services and web feed subscribers are the first to
In June 2023, on a contained-weight basis in descending order receive notification of USGS minerals information
of quantity, the leading destinations for silicon metal, more than publications and data releases. For information on how to
99.99% silicon trade category, were Vietnam, Japan, and subscribe, go to https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-
Germany (table 3). In June 2023, on a contained-weight basis in minerals-information-center/minerals-information-
descending order of quantity, leading import sources for publication-list-services.
ferrosilicon, 55%–80% grade, were Brazil, Canada, and Iceland,
and the leading import sources for silicon metal, 99.00%–
99.99% silicon trade category, were Brazil, Canada, and
Norway (table 4).

U.S. Department of the Interior September 2023

U.S. Geological Survey
 TABLE 1
PRODUCTION, SHIPMENTS, AND STOCKS OF SILICON ALLOYS
AND METAL IN THE UNITED STATES1, 2, 3

(Metric tons, gross weight)

Producers'
Gross Net stocks,
production4 shipments end of period
2022:
January–December 348,000 249,000 21,600
January–June W W W
June W 22,400 W
July W W W
August W 22,500 W
September W 15,700 W
October 25,500 17,100 24,700
November 22,600 20,600 22,800
December 19,900 W 21,600
2023:
January 26,600 W 21,700
February W 19,500 19,400
March W 22,500 23,400
April W 21,700 24,700
May W 20,400 23,500
June W 20,100 25,400
January–June W W 25,400
W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data.
1
Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2
Includes ferrosilicon, miscellaneous silicon alloys, and silicon metal, excluding
semiconductor and solar grades, except where noted.
3
Includes USGS estimates.
4
Ferrosilicon production includes material consumed in the production of miscellaneous
silicon alloys.

2
 TABLE 2
PRICES FOR FERROSILICON AND SILICON METAL IN JUNE 2023

Low Average High Average low, mid, and high

Ferrosilicon:
50% ferrosilicon1 cents per pound of contained silicon NA XX NA NA
75% ferrosilicon2 do. 120.00 137.75 145.00 XX
Silicon metal, 553 grade3 cents per pound 165.00 174.50 190.00 XX
do. Ditto. NA Not available. XX Not applicable.
1
CRU Group transaction price, duty paid, f.o.b. Pittsburgh, producing plant or Chicago/Pittsburgh warehouse. Average price reported for price range.
2
S&P Global Platts Metals Week, in U.S. warehouse, U.S. origin and imported material. Average price reported for all transactions during the month.
3
S&P Global Platts Metals, duty paid, delivered Midwest, U.S. spot and imported 553 grade silicon metal (minimum 98.50% silicon). Average price
reported for all transactions during the month.

3
 TABLE 3
U.S. EXPORTS OF FERROSILICON AND SILICON METAL IN JUNE 20231, 2

(Metric tons, unless otherwise specified)

January–June3
Gross Contained Gross Contained
Country or locality weight weight Value weight weight Value
Ferrosilicon:
More than 55% silicon:
Belgium -- -- -- 137 82 $115,000
Canada 896 538 $1,780,000 1,710 1,020 3,440,000
France 52 35 114,000 52 35 114,000
Germany -- -- -- 80 62 177,000
India -- -- -- 42 29 117,000
Israel -- -- -- 3 2 5,000
Mexico 88 53 145,000 770 529 1,340,000
Netherlands -- -- -- 295 177 148,000
Singapore -- -- -- 15 9 23,900
Thailand -- -- -- 74 44 178,000
Turkey -- -- -- 170 160 574,000
Total 1,040 626 2,040,000 3,350 2,150 6,230,000
Other ferrosilicon:
Belgium 36 16 50,600 144 62 216,000
Brazil -- -- -- 175 87 641,000
Canada 39 20 60,500 316 66 430,000
China -- -- -- 2 1 4,270
Germany 60 27 111,000 60 27 111,000
Mexico 63 26 175,000 323 156 1,210,000
Spain -- -- -- 40 20 107,000
Turkey 20 8 67,600 220 99 515,000
Total 218 98 464,000 1,280 519 3,240,000
Total ferrosilicon 1,250 723 2,500,000 4,630 2,670 9,470,000
Metal:
More than 99.99% silicon:
China 102 102 3,550,000 669 669 26,500,000
Germany 481 481 19,600,000 1,420 1,420 54,600,000
Japan 688 688 33,200,000 4,430 4,430 209,000,000
Korea, Republic of 45 45 1,390,000 341 341 14,800,000
Malaysia 269 269 10,300,000 865 865 33,700,000
Singapore 201 201 7,290,000 664 664 20,100,000
Taiwan 212 212 3,830,000 1,740 1,740 38,000,000
Turkey -- -- -- 259 259 9,020,000
United Kingdom 2 2 399,000 104 104 4,730,000
Vietnam 1,050 1,050 30,200,000 7,770 7,770 256,000,000
Other [23 countries and (or) localities] 39 39 2,770,000 227 227 19,100,000
Total 3,090 3,090 113,000,000 18,500 18,500 686,000,000
99.00%–99.99% silicon:
Belgium -- -- -- 80 68 107,000
Equatorial Guinea -- -- -- 23 23 32,400
France 21 21 29,300 42 41 58,600
Germany 4 4 5,860 4 4 5,860
Hong Kong -- -- -- 3 3 4,250
India -- -- -- 11 11 15,900
Japan 6 6 8,400 6 6 8,400
Korea, Republic of 7 7 10,100 20 22 31,000
Pakistan -- -- -- 6 6 8,690
Taiwan 2 2 3,170 17 16 23,300
Other [3 countries and (or) localities] -- -- -- 1 13 23,700
Total 40 40 56,900 213 213 319,000
See footnotes at end of table.

4
 TABLE 3—Continued
U.S. IMPORTS OF FERROSILICON AND SILICON METAL IN JUNE 20231, 2

(Metric tons, unless otherwise specified)

January–June3
Gross Contained Gross Contained
Country or locality weight weight Value weight weight Value
Metal—Continued:
Other silicon:
Belgium (4) (4) $7,270 38 37 $57,200
Canada 207 201 684,000 463 449 1,500,000
China -- -- -- 42 40 54,800
Germany 90 88 119,000 190 186 467,000
India -- -- -- 22 21 27,900
Mexico 6 6 21,300 227 220 915,000
Netherlands -- -- -- 363 353 292,000
South Africa -- -- -- 63 61 82,800
Trinidad and Tobago 2 2 26,400 27 26 64,300
Vietnam -- -- -- 340 324 6,500,000
Other [7 countries and (or) localities] -- -- -- 9 13 62,500
Total 306 297 859,000 1,780 1,730 10,000,000
Total silicon metal 3,440 3,430 114,000,000 20,500 20,400 696,000,000
-- Zero.
1
Presentation of monthly data is based on the quantities (gross weight) of the leading countries and (or) localities.
2
Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
3
May include revisions to previously published data.
4
Less than ½ unit.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

5
 TABLE 4
U.S. IMPORTS OF FERROSILICON AND SILICON METAL IN JUNE 20231, 2

(Metric tons, unless otherwise specified)

January–June3
Gross Contained Gross Contained
Country or locality weight weight Value weight weight Value
Ferrosilicon:
55%–80% silicon, more than 3% Ca:
China 9 7 $17,800 30 17 $60,500
France 18 11 67,500 180 115 749,000
India 58 44 177,000 167 138 405,000
Kazakhstan -- -- -- 1,300 1,270 2,490,000
Total 85 61 263,000 1,670 1,540 3,700,000
55%–80% silicon, other:
Brazil 3,470 2,620 6,710,000 17,000 12,800 32,400,000
Canada 1,450 1,050 4,850,000 8,360 6,080 29,200,000
Iceland 831 635 1,940,000 4,760 3,670 12,000,000
India 364 269 804,000 1,080 793 2,540,000
Kazakhstan -- -- -- 8,660 6,400 19,700,000
Malaysia 552 417 967,000 11,500 8,510 22,900,000
Paraguay 351 264 700,000 1,450 1,090 3,170,000
Russia -- -- -- 52,000 39,600 134,000,000
South Africa -- -- -- 489 360 2,390,000
Vietnam 275 208 470,000 2,850 2,080 4,570,000
Other [6 countries and (or) localities] 146 107 696,000 1,540 1,110 5,120,000
Total 7,440 5,570 17,100,000 110,000 82,500 268,000,000
More than 90% ferrosilicon, China -- -- -- 16 14 39,300
Magnesium ferrosilicon:
Brazil 183 82 265,000 1,700 763 3,260,000
Canada 1,210 555 4,090,000 7,670 3,530 26,800,000
China 9 5 20,500 9 5 20,500
Germany 56 25 122,000 230 104 415,000
India 89 41 211,000 555 251 1,360,000
Paraguay -- -- -- 30 14 115,000
Thailand 39 18 73,700 340 156 713,000
Total 1,580 726 4,780,000 10,500 4,820 32,700,000
Other ferrosilicon:
Canada 878 247 1,500,000 5,210 1,700 8,670,000
China -- -- -- 41 18 71,200
France -- -- -- 41 18 82,500
Germany 8 3 19,200 23 10 50,400
India -- -- -- 18 9 84,000
Italy -- -- -- 4 2 10,900
Norway -- -- -- 23 12 62,800
Paraguay 15 7 71,900 120 59 324,000
Spain -- -- -- 52 23 62,100
Turkey -- -- -- 24 11 76,500
United Kingdom -- -- -- 20 9 67,500
Total 901 257 1,590,000 5,570 1,870 9,560,000
Total ferrosilicon 10,000 6,610 23,800,000 127,000 90,700 314,000,000
Metal:
More than 99.99% silicon:
Brazil 112 112 401,000 683 683 2,660,000
China 22 22 3,800,000 85 85 16,300,000
Denmark 1 1 40,800 1 1 69,600
Germany 66 66 4,640,000 375 375 30,200,000
Japan 15 15 830,000 25 25 3,120,000
Korea, Republic of (4) (4) 29,100 (4) (4) 85,100
Norway -- -- -- 39 39 228,000
Poland -- -- -- (4) (4) 4,290
Spain -- -- -- 1 1 8,850
Taiwan 29 29 3,520,000 177 177 21,700,000
Other [5 countries and (or) localities] (4) (4) 8,390 (4) (4) 111,000
Total 245 245 13,300,000 1,390 1,390 74,500,000
99.00%–99.99% silicon:
Australia 107 106 410,000 1,370 1,360 6,280,000
See footnotes at end of table.

6
 TABLE 4—Continued
U.S. IMPORTS OF FERROSILICON AND SILICON METAL IN JUNE 20231, 2

(Metric tons, unless otherwise specified)

January–June3
Gross Contained Gross Contained
Country or locality weight weight Value weight weight Value
Metal—Continued:
99.00%–99.99% silicon:
Belgium -- -- -- 4 4 $26,800
Brazil 2,100 2,090 $8,990,000 7,500 7,450 29,900,000
Canada 1,990 1,980 8,990,000 12,200 12,100 60,100,000
Germany 279 278 795,000 289 288 843,000
Iceland -- -- -- 161 160 487,000
Laos 200 199 584,000 700 696 2,020,000
Malaysia -- -- -- 850 847 3,840,000
Norway 453 450 1,730,000 2,570 2,560 14,800,000
Thailand 431 427 1,220,000 1,050 1,040 3,640,000
Other [3 countries and (or) localities] -- -- -- 2 2 22,200
Total 5,570 5,530 22,700,000 26,700 26,500 122,000,000
Other silicon:
Belgium -- -- -- 100 96 344,000
Brazil 704 695 2,740,000 5,630 5,510 27,600,000
Canada 493 488 2,240,000 2,220 1,990 12,100,000
France -- -- -- 77 76 289,000
Iceland -- -- -- 125 96 431,000
Laos -- -- -- 300 296 915,000
Malaysia 420 414 1,180,000 910 894 2,790,000
Norway 440 432 1,560,000 1,280 1,250 5,400,000
South Africa 25 24 72,500 50 49 145,000
Thailand -- -- -- 240 236 1,180,000
Other [6 countries and (or) localities] 7 7 55,300 78 74 488,000
Total 2,090 2,060 7,850,000 11,000 10,600 51,800,000
Total silicon metal 7,900 7,830 43,900,000 39,100 38,500 248,000,000
-- Zero.
1
Presentation of monthly data is based on the quantities (gross weight) of the leading countries and (or) localities.
2
Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
3
May include revisions to previously published data.
4
Less than ½ unit.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.