Atomic properties
Market data
Raw material sources & pricing
| Raw Material Form | Grade/Quality | Price Paid by Refiners | Major Sources | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quartz (High Purity) | 99.5-99.9% SiO₂ | $100-200/MT | Brazil, USA, India | For semiconductor/solar applications |
| Quartz (Standard) | 98-99% SiO₂ | $30-50/MT | China, India, Brazil | For metallurgical silicon |
| Silica Sand | 95-98% SiO₂ | $20-40/MT | USA, Australia, India | For ferrosilicon production |
| Recycled Silicon | Variable purity | $1,500-2,000/MT | Solar/semiconductor waste | Growing market segment |
Silica/Quartz - Primary Raw Material
Current Market Price: $30-50/MT FOB (varies by purity and location) Major Global Reserves: China: Abundant quartz reserves - Leading producer Brazil: High-purity quartz deposits India: Significant quartz reserves United States: High-quality silica deposits 2025 Production Leaders: China: 6.6 million MT (73% of global production) Russia: 620,000 MT Brazil: 370,000 MT Norway: 360,000 MT Raw Material Form Grade/Quality Price Paid by Refiners Major Sources Notes Quartz (High Purity) 99.5-99.9% SiO₂ $100-200/MT Brazil, USA, India For semiconductor/solar applications Quartz (Standard) 98-99% SiO₂ $30-50/MT China, India, Brazil For metallurgical silicon Silica Sand 95-98% SiO₂ $20-40/MT USA, Australia, India For ferrosilicon production Recycled Silicon Variable purity $1,500-2,000/MT Solar/semico
⚠️ Seawater Silicon Extraction
Commercial Viability: NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE Concentration: 0.06-1.8 ppm (extremely low) Chemical Form: Primarily as dissolved silica (Si(OH)₄) Status: No commercial seawater silicon extraction exists. The extremely low concentration and high energy requirements make extraction uneconomical compared to abundant quartz mining. Note: Silicon concentration in seawater increases with depth (0.06 ppm surface, 1.8 ppm deep sea) but remains far too low for commercial extraction.
Production cost analysis
| Cost Component | $/MT Silicon Metal | % of Total Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quartz/Silica (2.7-3 MT needed) | $80-150 | 3-5% | Low cost due to abundance |
| Energy (Electricity) | $600-1,200 | 30-40% | 11-13 kWh/kg at $0.05-0.08/kWh |
| Carbon Reductants | $500-750 | 25-30% | Coal, coke, wood chips |
| Labor | $200-400 | 10-15% | Varies by country |
| Other Materials & Overhead | $420-600 | 15-20% | Electrodes, maintenance, logistics |
| Total Production Cost | $1,800-3,100 | 100% | Compare to selling price: $2,000-3,000/MT |
Energy consumption breakdown
| Process Stage | Energy Consumption | % of Total Energy | Energy Type | Key Operations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbothermic Reduction | 11-13 kWh/kg | 85-90% | Electricity | Submerged arc furnace at 2000°C |
| Raw Material Preparation | 0.5-1 kWh/kg | 5-7% | Electricity | Crushing, sizing, mixing |
| Product Handling | 0.3-0.5 kWh/kg | 3-5% | Electricity/Fuel | Casting, crushing, packaging |
| Environmental Controls | 0.2-0.3 kWh/kg | 2-3% | Electricity | Dust collection, gas treatment |
Siemens Process Energy Details (Solar/Semiconductor Grade)
Metallurgical Grade to Trichlorosilane: 5-10 kWh/kg Distillation/Purification: 10-20 kWh/kg CVD Deposition: 50-150 kWh/kg Rod Processing: 5-10 kWh/kg Total: 70-200 kWh/kg (varies by purity requirement)
Fluidized Bed Reactor (FBR) Energy Details
Silane Production: 10-15 kWh/kg FBR Deposition: 4-16 kWh/kg Product Handling: 1-2 kWh/kg Total: 15-33 kWh/kg (more efficient than Siemens) Note: 90% energy reduction vs. traditional Siemens
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metallurgical Grade Silicon | Si | 28.09 g/mol | 98-99% | $2.00-3.00 | Aluminum alloys, silicones |
| Ferrosilicon (75%) | FeSi | Variable | 75% Si | $1.50-2.00 | Steel deoxidizer, alloys |
| Solar Grade Silicon | Si | 28.09 g/mol | 99.9999% (6N) | $15.00-25.00 | Solar cells |
| Electronic Grade Silicon | Si | 28.09 g/mol | 99.9999999% (9N) | $150.00-300.00 | Semiconductors, chips |
| Silicon Dioxide (Fumed) | SiO₂ | 60.08 g/mol | 99.8% | $1.50-3.00 | Rheology control, fillers |
| Silicon Carbide | SiC | 40.10 g/mol | 98-99.5% | $0.80-2.50 | Abrasives, refractories |
| Silane Gas | SiH₄ | 32.12 g/mol | 99.999% | $200.00-500.00 | CVD, semiconductor |
| Trichlorosilane | HSiCl₃ | 135.45 g/mol | 99.9% | $2.00-4.00 | Polysilicon production |
| Silicon Powder (Spherical) | Si | 28.09 g/mol | 99-99.9% | $20.00-100.00 | 3D printing, ceramics |
| Silicon Nanopowder | Si | 28.09 g/mol | 99.9% | $500.00-2000.00 | Battery anodes, composites |
| Silicone (PDMS) | [Si(CH₃)₂O]ₙ | Variable | Medical grade | $5.00-50.00 | Sealants, medical devices |
| Silicon Tetrachloride | SiCl₄ | 169.90 g/mol | 99.9% | $1.00-2.00 | Optical fibers, silica |
Suppliers by country
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| GCL-Poly Energy | Polysilicon, wafers, modules | World's largest polysilicon producer, FBR technology |
| Daqo New Energy | Polysilicon (solar grade) | 305,000 MT/year capacity, low-cost production |
| TBEA | Polysilicon, metallurgical silicon | Integrated production, 240,000 MT/year polysilicon |
| East Hope Group | Metallurgical silicon, polysilicon | Vertically integrated, low-cost producer |
🇳🇴 Norway
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Elkem | Silicon metal, ferrosilicon, silicones | Elkem Solar® process, low-carbon silicon |
| Wacker Chemie (Norway plant) | Polysilicon, silicones | Hyperpure polysilicon, expanding capacity |
🇺🇸 United States
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Ferroglobe | Silicon metal, ferrosilicon, specialty alloys | Battery-grade silicon, vertical integration |
| Dow Inc. (formerly Dow Corning) | Silicones, specialty silicon | High-performance silicones, semiconductors |
| Globe Specialty Metals | Silicon metal, silicon alloys | Specialty alloys for automotive |
🇩🇪 Germany
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Wacker Chemie AG | Polysilicon, silicones, silicon wafers | Hyperpure polysilicon, integrated production |
| Siltronic AG | Silicon wafers (up to 300mm) | Semiconductor wafers, epitaxial wafers |
🇯🇵 Japan
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Shin-Etsu Chemical | Silicon wafers, silicones, semiconductor silicon | Largest semiconductor silicon supplier |
| SUMCO Corporation | Silicon wafers (300mm, 200mm) | High-purity wafers for logic and memory |
| Tokuyama Corporation | Polysilicon, fumed silica | VLD (Vapor-to-Liquid Deposition) process |
🇧🇷 Brazil
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Rima Industrial | Silicon metal, ferrosilicon | High-quality metallurgical silicon |
| Liasa | Silicon metal, ferroalloys | Export-focused production |
🇷🇺 Russia
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Rusal | Silicon metal, specialty alloys | Low-carbon silicon using hydropower |
| Sual | Silicon metal, ferrosilicon | Integrated aluminum-silicon production |
🇰🇷 South Korea
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| SK Siltron | Silicon wafers (300mm, 200mm) | Advanced semiconductor wafers |
| OCI Company | Polysilicon, fumed silica | Solar-grade polysilicon |
Market demand by product form
| Product Form | Global Market Size | China Market | Growth Rate (CAGR) | Key End Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metallurgical Silicon | $8.5 billion | 65% share | 5.4% | Aluminum alloys, chemicals |
| Polysilicon (Solar) | $12 billion | 80% share | 13.8% | Solar panels |
| Semiconductor Silicon | $13.8 billion | 35% share | 6.5% | Chips, electronics |
| Ferrosilicon | $5.2 billion | 55% share | 4.2% | Steel production |
| Silicones | $23.3 billion | 40% share | 10.7% | Sealants, medical, automotive |
| Silicon Carbide | $3.8 billion | 45% share | 16.2% | Power electronics, EVs |
| Specialty Silicon | $2.1 billion | 30% share | 8.5% | Optics, ceramics, batteries |
Market trends
EV Battery Revolution: Silicon anodes replacing graphite, offering 30% faster charging and 20% longer lifespan Solar Boom: Polysilicon demand growing at 13.8% CAGR, driven by global renewable energy push Energy Efficiency: FBR technology reducing polysilicon production energy by 90% vs. traditional Siemens China Dominance: Produces 73% of global silicon but facing environmental regulations and energy constraints Supply Chain Reshoring: US and EU investing heavily in domestic silicon production capacity Silicon Carbide Growth: 16.2% CAGR driven by power electronics and EV applications Recycling Emergence: Solar panel and semiconductor waste recycling becoming economically viable Price Volatility: Silicon metal prices ranging $2,000-3,000/MT based on energy costs and demand
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon Metal | Si | 28.09 | 35.60 |
| Silicon Dioxide | SiO₂ | 60.08 | 16.64 |
| Silicon Carbide | SiC | 40.10 | 24.94 |
| Silane | SiH₄ | 32.12 | 31.13 |
| Trichlorosilane | HSiCl₃ | 135.45 | 7.38 |
| Silicon Tetrachloride | SiCl₄ | 169.90 | 5.89 |
References
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