According to latest statistics, China's total production capacity of silicon (Si) metal amounted to 373,010 tonnes in January 2013, while actual output totaled 83,115 tonnes. The data apparently showed that operation rate of Si metal plants was extremely low in January. The main reasons were lukewarm demand and increasing power charge due to dry season. In addition, near owing to the Spring Festival holidays on February 9-15, operation rate of Si metal is unlikely to rebound, which indicates that output will see little fluctuation in February.
