China Silicon Metal Export Price Chart: Grade Naming, Terms and Cost Drivers
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Reading the Grade Code: 553, 441, 3303, 2202
Chinese silicon metal grades are written as a three or four digit code in which each digit gives the maximum content of iron, aluminium and calcium in tenths of a percent, in that order. Grade 553 therefore means up to 0.5% Fe, 0.5% Al and 0.3% Ca, grade 441 means 0.4% Fe, 0.4% Al and 0.1% Ca, grade 3303 means 0.3% Fe, 0.3% Al and 0.03% Ca, and grade 2202 means 0.2% Fe, 0.2% Al and 0.02% Ca. The chemical composition requirements for these grades are set out in GB/T 2881 for silicon metal, so a quotation is meaningless unless it names the grade code, the size range and the standard it is certified against.
| Grade | Fe max | Al max | Ca max | Typical end use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 553 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.3% | Aluminium alloys |
| 441 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.1% | Silicones, aluminium alloys |
| 3303 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.03% | Silicone rubber, chemical use |
| 2202 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.02% | Chemical and electronic feedstock |
Which Grade Goes Where
Aluminium alloy plants are the largest outlet for grade 553, where the silicon improves fluidity and strength in casting alloys. Silicone producers take grades 441 and 3303 and care more about aluminium and calcium than about iron, because these elements affect the polymerisation step. Chemical and electronic routes, including trichlorosilane for high-purity material, demand grades 2202 and finer, where the sum of metallic impurities must be held at very low levels. Solar-grade feedstock is a separate specification again, requiring silicon purity of 99.99% and above, well beyond the ordinary metallurgical grades.
Price Basis, Incoterms and HS Codes
Export assessments are usually stated as a range in US dollars per tonne on an FOB basis at a Chinese port such as Huangpu, Shanghai or Tianjin, and CIF offers are then built by adding ocean freight, insurance and any destination charges. The harmonised system code distinguishes the two purity classes: silicon containing at least 99.99% by weight of silicon falls under HS 2804.61, while other silicon falls under HS 2804.69. Trade terms follow Incoterms 2020, and any comparison of two price charts must confirm whether the number is tax inclusive or net of value added tax, and whether it is FOB, CFR or CIF.
Cost Drivers Behind the Chart
Electricity is the dominant input. Smelting one tonne of silicon metal in a submerged arc furnace consumes roughly 11,000-13,000 kWh, so power tariffs in the producing provinces drive the price floor more than any other factor. The reductant mix of petroleum coke, charcoal and coal, the quality of the quartzite feed, electrode consumption and the yield of the furnace all move the cost curve. Seasonality matters because smelters in Yunnan and Sichuan rely on hydropower, and the rainy season from roughly May to October lowers generating cost and raises operating rates in those provinces.
How to Read a Daily Chart Correctly
A price chart is only useful when the basis is fixed. Check the grade code, the size range, the quoted range and the midpoint, the delivery term, the port of loading and the date. Daily assessments move in small steps because the underlying contract market is thin, so a movement of a few tens of dollars per tonne is normal. Buyers should track the spread between grades rather than the absolute level, because the premium for 3303 or 2202 over 553 tells more about supply tightness than a single number does.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does the grade code 3303 tell a buyer?
A: It states maximum iron of 0.3%, aluminium of 0.3% and calcium of 0.03% in the delivered metal under GB/T 2881, which places it in the chemical-grade family rather than the aluminium alloy family.
Q: Which HS code applies to silicon metal exports?
A: Silicon with at least 99.99% purity is classified under HS 2804.61, and all other silicon, including the usual metallurgical grades, falls under HS 2804.69.
Q: Why do silicon metal prices move with hydropower seasons?
A: Because about 11,000-13,000 kWh is consumed per tonne of metal, so lower rainy-season tariffs in Yunnan and Sichuan reduce smelter costs and increase the volume offered for export.
Q: Are FOB and CIF quotations directly comparable?
A: No. The CIF figure includes freight and insurance to the destination port, so the difference between the two is exactly the logistics cost that the buyer would otherwise carry.
Q: How should an imported lot be verified against the chart grade?
A: Take a composite sample per lot and check iron, aluminium and calcium by spectrometry, confirming the imported material really meets the grade code that was priced.
