Abstract
What this report gives you:
- 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 Ferroatlántica, Globe
Specialty Metals, Erdos Electrical Power and Metallurgical and JSC Kuznetsky
Ferroalloys
- Forecasts for end-use consumption and world supply and demand
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.
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. Ferroatlántica, having acquired
Péchiney' 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
Ferroatlántica in China were the only new standard grade silicon
projects in existence globally in 2007.
World ferrosilicon production capacity of approximately 7.5Mtpy is very
fragmented with some 70 companies in 27 countries outside China (where as many
as 1,000 plants are 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.
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