Salient Silicon Statistics

This table presents key data on the production, trade, consumption, and pricing of silicon materials in the United States, focusing primarily on ferrosilicon and silicon metal. These materials are critical inputs in various industrial processes, including steelmaking, aluminum alloys, and electronics manufacturing. Tracking their production and trade flows provides valuable insight into the health and dynamics of industries reliant on silicon, as well as the broader economic implications related to supply chain stability, pricing trends, and international competitiveness.

Analysis of the data reveals that U.S. exports of ferrosilicon fluctuated modestly from 8 thousand metric tons in 2019 to 5 thousand metric tons in 2023, while silicon metal exports showed a decline from 40 thousand metric tons in 2019 to 42 thousand metric tons in 2023, peaking at 53 thousand metric tons in 2021. Imports for ferrosilicon remained relatively stable, with a slight decrease from 175 thousand metric tons in 2022 to 153 thousand metric tons in 2023. Silicon metal imports, however, decreased significantly from 116 thousand metric tons in 2022 to 79 thousand metric tons in 2023. Average prices for silicon metal and ferrosilicon grades experienced notable volatility, with silicon metal prices rising sharply to 361.86 cents per pound in 2022 before falling to 179.69 cents in 2023, and ferrosilicon 75% grade prices peaking at 312.1 cents per pound in 2022 before declining to 142.23 cents in 2023. Globally, ferrosilicon production showed a slight downward trend from 8,220 thousand metric tons in 2019 to 7,980 thousand metric tons in 2023, while silicon metal production increased steadily from 2,960 thousand metric tons in 2019 to 4,360 thousand metric tons in 2023, underscoring growing global demand for silicon metal despite fluctuations in the U.S. market.