Chinese silicon export prices continued to weaken over the past week amid slack demand from downstream producers, while the European market was once again unchanged due to a lack of significant trading activity.
The Chinese silicon export market weakened further in the week ended Friday June 15, with prices continuing to fall amid limited buying interest, particularly from secondary aluminium alloy producers.Metal Bulletin assessed the Chinese grade 553 silicon export price at $1,760-1,850 per tonne on June 15, down 1.1% from $1,780-1,870 per tonne a week ago.A seasonal lull in demand has kept domestic silicon quotations in China subdued, while production curtailments at secondary aluminium alloy refineries resulting from an environmental crackdown in the country has added to the sluggish demand for silicon metal."Demand from [producers of] secondary aluminium alloys is usually weak in the latter stages of...