[Silicon Metal Price Center Remained in the Doldrums]: This week, the silicon metal market stayed weak, with the transaction center for some silicon metal grades edging lower. As of April 2, SMM east China prices were oxygen-blown #553 silicon at 9,000-9,200 yuan/mt, down 100 yuan/mt WoW; 441# silicon at 9,300-9,400 yuan/mt, down 50 yuan/mt WoW; and 3303# silicon at 10,100-10,300 yuan/mt, down 100 yuan/mt WoW. In the futures market, the most-traded silicon metal contract remained weak, with the SI2605 contract closing at 8,300 yuan/mt on Thursday, down 435 yuan/mt WoW. Spot declines were narrower than futures prices, and the advantage in supplier shipments shifted from silicon enterprises to trading firms engaging in both spot and futures market. During the week, market prices were under pressure, while procurement volume from some downstream users and export traders increased, with transactions in some grades remaining moderate.

[SMM Silicon-Based PV Morning Briefing] Silicon metal: The silicon metal market remained in a weak stalemate. Yesterday, SMM east China oxygen-blown #553 silicon was at 9,100-9,200 yuan/mt, down 50 yuan/mt from the previous day. Weaker expectations for production cuts on the supply side weighed on market sentiment. At the start of the week, futures prices trended weaker, and the center of spot transactions for some cargoes in the market edged lower. Cost support from the raw material side remained firm, and prices may fall back into stalemate. Polysilicon: N-type recharging polysilicon was quoted at 35.5-41.5 yuan/kg. Polysilicon prices have continued to decline recently, mainly affected by market sentiment and inventory exit the market among some leading enterprises. At present, low-priced polysilicon has already fallen below the cost line of some producers, and the sentiment to hold quotes firm has strengthened somewhat. Relevant meetings still need to be monitored going forward.

Premier Energies Ltd has started trial production at its 5.6 GW solar module manufacturing facility in Seetharampur, Telangana, producing G12R TOPCon modules with zero-busbar ('0BB') architecture. This new 75-acre factory boosts the company's total module capacity beyond 10 GW. The highly automated plant can produce up to four modules every 16 seconds and uses 'AI'-powered fault detection. Company executives highlighted the facility's role in scaling integrated manufacturing and supporting India's clean energy goals. Premier Energies is also executing a $1.38 billion capital expenditure plan over three years to double its capacity, expand into ingots and wafers, and diversify into inverters and battery systems.

The International Finance Corporation ('IFC') is providing a loan of up to $125 million to 'OCI TerraSus Sdn. Bhd.' for a semiconductor-grade polysilicon manufacturing facility in Malaysia. The plant, a joint venture between Korea's 'OCI' and Japan's 'Tokuyama Corporation', is located in Sarawak and has a planned capacity of 10,000 MT with a total investment of $435 million. Powered by renewable energy, it is billed as Southeast Asia's first such facility, producing high-purity materials for silicon wafers and semiconductor chips amid surging 'AI' demand. This follows a $250 million 'IFC' loan granted last August for a 100,000 MT polysilicon plant in Oman.

[Silicon Metal Market Sees Rising Bargaining Sentiment, Focus on Changes in Supply-Side Operating Rates]: This week, the silicon metal market remained in a bargaining stalemate, with the price center of some specifications edging up slightly. As of March 26, SMM east China oxygen-blown #553 silicon was at 9,100-9,300 yuan/mt, up 100 yuan/mt WoW. #441 silicon was at 9,300-9,500 yuan/mt, flat WoW, and #3303 silicon was at 10,200-10,400 yuan/mt, also flat WoW. In the futures market, affected by sentiment and expectations surrounding supply-side factors such as “self-discipline among silicon enterprises and anti-involution,” the most-traded silicon metal contract continued to hold up well over the past week, closing at 8,735 yuan/mt late on Thursday with a notable gain. In terms of quotations, silicon enterprises mostly kept shipment quotes stable, with some quotes testing slight increases; the quote center of trading firms engaging in both spot and futures market rose markedly, and low-priced cargoes disappeared. As downstream acceptance of high prices was limited, high-priced transactions in the market were difficult to conclude.

[SMM Silicon-Based PV Morning Meeting Summary] Silicon Metal: Spot silicon metal prices remained in a stalemate consolidation. Yesterday, SMM east China oxygen-blown #553 silicon was at 9,100-9,300 yuan/mt, and #441 silicon at 9,300-9,500 yuan/mt, unchanged from the previous day. The quote center of some silicon enterprises was slightly lower than that of trading firms engaging in both spot and futures market, while downstream users mainly transacted at lower prices, and overall market trading activity was subdued. Polysilicon: N-type recharging polysilicon was quoted at 38-47 yuan/kg. Polysilicon prices continued to decline somewhat recently, mainly affected by market sentiment and inventory clearance by some leading enterprises. At present, low-priced polysilicon has already fallen below the cost line of some manufacturers, and the sentiment to hold quotes firm has strengthened somewhat. The upstream market was also still watching wafer price movements.