Silicon Metal Market Report December 2011

South China entered the dry season gradually from November with decreasing operating rate and increasing power price, but Chinese silicon metal price dropped further as the demand was weak on the sliding global economy.Asian Metal Copyright The overall trading in the silicon metal export market was not strong in December and the market saw some orders for January.Asian Metal Copyright The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced to raise the on-grid electricity price by around RMB0.026/kwh (0.4cent/kwh) on average and the retail electricity price by around RMB0.03/kwh (0.47cent/kwh) on average from December 1st, and the silicon metal production cost increased and the operating rate decreased further into December, so silicon metal smelters were unwilling to lower offers further and the silicon metal prices became stable and recovered slightly.Asian Metal Copyright Chinese silicon metal price increased slightly in the first half of December and kept largely stable in late December.Asian Metal Copyright Chinese silicon metal price increased slightly in the first half of December and kept largely stable in late December.Asian Metal Copyright The downstream industries were still slow and buyers were inactive in adding stocks in large quantities in the year end.Asian Metal Copyright Silicon metal traders and consumers purchased some materials in the first half of December, but the market calmed down again in late December.Asian Metal Copyright The downstream industries were still slow and buyers were inactive in adding stocks in large quantities in the year end.Asian Metal Copyright The downstream industries were still slow and buyers were inactive in adding stocks in large quantities in the year end.Asian Metal Copyright47centkwh on average from December 1st, and the silicon metal production cost increased and the operating rate decreased further into December, so silicon metal smelters were unwilling to lower offers further and the silicon metal prices became stable and recovered slightly.Asian Metal Copyright The overall trading in the silicon metal export market was not strong in December and the market saw some orders for January.Asian Metal Copyright47centkwh on average from December 1st, and the silicon metal production cost increased and the operating rate decreased further into December, so silicon metal smelters were unwilling to lower offers further and the silicon metal prices became stable and recovered slightly.Asian Metal Copyright The silicon metal export prices also increased following the domestic price rise and RMB appreciation.Asian Metal Copyright4centkwh on average and the retail electricity price by around RMB0.Asian Metal Copyright