SILICON (Data in thousand metric tons of silicon content, unless noted) Domestic Production and Use: Estimated value of silicon metal and alloys (excluding semiconductor-grade silicon) produced in the United States in 1995 was about $570 million. Ferrosilicon was produced by five companies in six plants, while production of silicon metal was distributed between five companies in eight plants. Most of the ferrosilicon and silicon metal plants were east of the Mississippi River or in the Pacific Northwest. Most ferrosilicon was consumed in the ferrous foundry and steel industries, predominantly in the eastern one-half of the United States. The main consumers of silicon metal were aluminum producers and the chemical industry. Salient Statistics--United States: 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995e/ Production 363 370 367 390 390 Imports for consumption 164 193 212 245 240 Exports 35 38 31 32 60 Consumption, apparent 500 532 557 607 580 Price,1/ average, cents per pound Si: Ferrosilicon, 50% Si 38.3 36.9 40.8 43.9 54.5 Ferrosilicon, 75% Si 37.0 35.4 40.6 40.8 55.1 Silicon metal 61.5 60.0 66.4 64.1 67.8 Stocks, producer and consumer, yearend 64 57 48 44 34 Employment, plante/ 2,300 2,300 NA NA NA Net import reliance2/ as a percent of apparent consumption 27 30 34 36 33 Recycling: Insignificant. Import Sources (1991-94): Norway, 19%; Brazil, 17%; Canada, 13%; Russia, 10%; and other, 41%. Tariff: Item Number Most favored nation (MFN) Non-MFN3/ 12/31/95 12/31/95 Ferrosilicon, 55%-80% Si: More than 3% Ca 7202.21.1000 1.1% ad val. 11.5% ad val. Other 7202.21.5000 1.5% ad val. 11.5% ad val. Ferrosilicon, 80%-90% Si 7202.21.7500 1.9% ad val. 9% ad val. Ferrosilicon, more than 90% Si 7202.21.9000 5.8% ad val. 40% ad val. Ferrosilicon, other: Ferrosilicon, more than 2% Mg 7202.29.0010 Free 4.4›/kg Si. Ferrosilicon, other 7202.29.0050 Free 4.4›/kg Si. Silicon, more than 99.99% Si 2804.61.0000 3% ad val. 25% ad val. Silicon, 99.00%-99.99% Si 2804.69.1000 5.3% ad val. 21% ad val. Silicon, other 2804.69.5000 8.3% ad val. 45% ad val. Depletion Allowance: Quartzite, 14% (Domestic and Foreign); gravel, 5% (Domestic and Foreign). Government Stockpile: Information on silicon carbide in the National Defense Stockpile is discussed in the "Manufactured Abrasives" chapter. Events, Trends, and Issues: Overall consumption for silicon decreased compared with that of the previous year. Demand for silicon ferroalloys closely follows overall iron and steel production, whereas demand for silicon metal largely reflects the health of the aluminum and chemical industries. Consumption of ferrosilicon and miscellaneous silicon alloys was about 350,000 tons, while consumption of silicon metal was about 230,000 tons. In mid-October, the "dealer import" price for 50%-grade ferrosilicon was $0.64 to $0.66 per pound, the import price for 75%-grade ferrosilicon was $0.64 to $0.655 per pound, and the import price for silicon metal was $0.72 to $0.75 per pound. Escalating prices for both ferrosilicon and silicon metal were being influenced by the respective tight markets, antidumping duties imposed in the United States and Europe, and declining exports to the West from China and producing countries of the Former Soviet Union. Prepared by Larry D. Cunningham, (703) 648-4977. SILICON For the first one-half-year, total gross ferrosilicon imports decreased by about 25%. Norway and Iceland were the leading suppliers, with about 60% of both total quantity and value. For the same period, silicon metal imports were up slightly, with Russia providing about 35% of both total quantity and value. It is estimated that in 1996 domestic production of silicon-containing ferroalloys and metal will be about 400,000 tons and U.S. apparent consumption will be about 600,000 tons. World Production, Reserves, and Reserve Base: Productione/ Reserves and reserve base4/ 1994 1995 United States 390 390 The reserves and reserve Australia 30 30 base in most major Brazil 250 250 producing countries are ample Canada 55 60 in relation to demand. China 715 720 Quantitative estimates are Egypt 30 30 not available. France 85 90 Iceland 40 40 India 55 60 Kazakstan 230 230 Norway 350 350 Poland 50 50 Romania 20 20 Russia 340 340 South Africa 100 100 Spain 20 20 Ukraine 260 260 Venezuela 30 30 Other countries 120 130 World total 3,170 3,200 World Resources: The world and domestic resources for making silicon metal and alloys are abundant and, in most producing countries, adequate to supply world requirements for many decades. Substitutes: Various metals and alloys, such as aluminum and silicomanganese, can be substituted for ferrosilicon in some applications. Germanium and gallium arsenide are the principal substitutes for silicon in semiconductor and infrared applications. e/Estimated. NA Not available. 1/Based on U.S. dealer import price. 2/Defined as imports - exports + adjustments for Government and industry stock changes. 3/See Appendix B. 4/See Appendix C for definitions. Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 1996