Silicon Price Today — Live Spot Rate and Market Data

The silicon price stands at 8,335 CNY per tonne ($1,234.47 USD/tonne) as of 3 August 2026, according to Trading Economics, up 2.52% on the day. The silicon price has been essentially flat over the past month — Trading Economics itself characterises the reading as unchanged — and is now down 0.30% year-on-year, a reversal from June and July’s positive year-on-year readings. Silicon is traded primarily in Chinese yuan on domestic markets — China produces approximately two-thirds of global output — with regional export prices quoted in USD by the Shanghai Metals Market across multiple purity grades.

Current Silicon Price

The table below shows the current silicon price across the primary benchmarks. The Trading Economics figure tracks a contract for difference (CFD) referencing the Chinese domestic market. SMM (Shanghai Metals Market) publishes daily prices across multiple silicon grades and delivery locations — the FOB (free on board) export prices are most relevant to international buyers, while domestic ex-works prices reflect the Chinese internal market.

Silicon grade designations follow a three-digit impurity code: the digits represent the maximum percentage content of iron (Fe), aluminium (Al), and calcium (Ca) respectively. #553 indicates a maximum of 0.5% Fe, 0.5% Al, and 0.3% Ca — the standard industrial grade used in aluminium alloys and silicone production. #441 and #421 are higher-purity grades commanding a price premium, used in more demanding chemical and electronics applications. The spread between Xinjiang ex-works ($1,248.06) and FOB Huangpu export ($1,315.00) for #553 grade reflects inland logistics, port handling, and export margin. Notably, the Trading Economics domestic benchmark rose sharply on the day (+2.52%) even as most SMM export and ex-works grades eased modestly this cycle — a divergence between the CFD-tracked benchmark and physical spot pricing worth watching rather than treating as contradictory, since the two track somewhat different reference points.

Regional delivered prices vary further: North America pays approximately $2.88/kg ($2,880/tonne), Europe approximately $1.92/kg ($1,920/tonne), and Southeast Asia approximately $1.67/kg ($1,670/tonne), reflecting freight, import duties, and local market premiums above the Chinese FOB price. These regional figures have not been updated this cycle.

Silicon Price Per Gram, Per Kilogram and Per Pound

The table below converts the current silicon price from the standard per-tonne benchmark into smaller units used by specialty chemical buyers, laboratory procurement teams, and electronics material sourcing.

These figures reflect metallurgical-grade silicon (#553 benchmark). Semiconductor-grade silicon — purified to 99.9999999% purity for use in integrated circuits and solar wafers — commands a substantial premium and is priced through separate supply contracts rather than commodity spot markets. Prices are indicative and updated monthly. For contract pricing, consult the Shanghai Metals Market or regional distributors directly.

Silicon Price History

The Trading Economics data series for the Chinese domestic silicon price benchmark covers 2024–2026, showing a range of 7,015 CNY/tonne at the low to 13,650 CNY/tonne at the high — both unchanged from the prior reading. The current level of 8,335 CNY/tonne sits approximately 39% below the series peak, reflecting a normalisation from elevated prices driven by energy cost spikes and supply disruptions in Chinese producing regions during the peak period.

Longer-term silicon price history reflects cycles tied to Chinese energy policy and power availability. Yunnan and Sichuan provinces — major silicon-producing regions that rely on hydroelectric power — experience seasonal price swings linked to rainfall and reservoir levels. Periods of drought reduce hydropower availability, increasing energy costs for the energy-intensive electric arc furnace production process and tightening supply. The 2021–2022 price spike that drove silicon above 20,000 CNY/tonne in some periods was partly attributable to Chinese power rationing policies alongside raw material shortages. This month’s flat headline reading, alongside a swing to negative year-on-year performance, suggests the market has settled into a more stable range after the volatility described in earlier updates — though the sharp single-day rise (+2.52%) is worth watching for whether it extends into a new trend or proves to be day-to-day noise.

Silicon Price in USD, EUR, GBP and Other Currencies

The Chinese domestic silicon price is denominated in CNY, but silicon is traded internationally in USD. European aluminium alloy producers, US semiconductor manufacturers, and Japanese silicone chemical companies all purchase silicon across multiple currency zones. The table below converts the current benchmark into the six currencies most relevant to CMN’s readership, using the USD/tonne equivalent as the conversion base.

Exchange rates: Google Finance/XE, August 2026. CNY figures reflect the source benchmark price directly. Note that the CNY benchmark is a domestic Chinese market price — international buyers transact at FOB export prices, which carry a premium above the domestic rate. See the FOB Huangpu price table above for the relevant export reference.

What Drives the Silicon Price?

The silicon price is shaped by a combination of Chinese energy economics, global industrial demand, and the distinct requirements of the metal’s three principal end-use sectors.

Chinese Energy Costs and Production Geography

China accounts for approximately two-thirds of global silicon production, with output concentrated in provinces including Xinjiang, Yunnan, Sichuan, Inner Mongolia, and Qinghai. Production is highly energy-intensive — silicon is made by carbothermically reducing quartz in electric arc furnaces — making electricity cost the dominant variable in the cost structure. Xinjiang benefits from low-cost coal power, producing the cheapest silicon in the SMM price tables ($1,248.06/tonne for #553 grade). Yunnan and Sichuan rely on hydropower, creating seasonal price volatility tied to water levels. Any Chinese policy affecting industrial electricity tariffs or carbon emissions from arc furnaces directly influences the global silicon price.

Aluminium Alloy Demand

The largest single end-use for metallurgical-grade silicon is aluminium-silicon alloys (silumin), used extensively in automotive casting. Approximately 55% of metallurgical silicon consumption goes to aluminium alloy production, primarily for automotive components where silicon-aluminium eutectic mixtures provide superior casting properties and wear resistance. Automotive production volumes and the mix between internal combustion and electric vehicle platforms — both of which use aluminium intensively — therefore have a direct bearing on silicon demand and price.

Silicone Chemical Production

Silicon is the feedstock for silicone polymers — a broad family of materials used in sealants, lubricants, medical devices, electronics encapsulation, and construction. The #421 grade and higher are required for silicone production, commanding a premium over standard #553. Growth in construction activity, consumer electronics manufacturing, and medical device production supports this demand segment, while overcapacity in Chinese silicone production has periodically weighed on the price premium for higher grades.

Polysilicon and Solar Manufacturing

Metallurgical-grade silicon is the upstream feedstock for polysilicon, which is in turn the input for photovoltaic solar wafers and semiconductor substrates. The solar supply chain has experienced significant overcapacity in China through 2024–2026, suppressing polysilicon prices and reducing the demand pull on upstream metallurgical silicon from this segment. High-efficiency module prices have fallen toward 0.7 yuan/watt, compressing margins throughout the solar value chain and limiting the price support that solar demand had previously provided to silicon producers.

Semiconductor Applications

Semiconductor-grade silicon — purified to better than 99.9999999% purity for integrated circuit and advanced solar cell manufacturing — is a distinct market from metallurgical silicon. The refining steps from metallurgical grade to semiconductor grade add substantial cost and are primarily undertaken in Japan, Germany, South Korea, and the United States, as well as China. Semiconductor silicon demand is driven by the global electronics cycle, data centre build-out, and AI chip manufacturing volumes. This market does not trade on commodity spot prices and is not reflected in the SMM or Trading Economics benchmarks above.

Silicon Supply Chain and Critical Minerals Context

Silicon occupies an unusual position in the critical minerals landscape: it is the second most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, yet its refined forms — metallurgical silicon, polysilicon, and semiconductor-grade silicon wafers — are concentrated in a small number of production facilities, many of them in China. The energy intensity of production and China’s dominant market share create supply chain exposure for Western manufacturers of solar panels, semiconductors, aluminium alloys, and silicone chemicals.

The United States, European Union, and Japan have each identified silicon supply chains as strategic priorities. US domestic silicon production of approximately 170,000 tonnes per year — primarily from operations in the southeast — represents a fraction of Chinese output. Norway (330,000 tonnes) and Brazil (240,000 tonnes) are the largest non-Chinese producers, supplying primarily to European markets.

For broader coverage of silicon’s role in semiconductor and solar manufacturing supply chains, see CMN’s Supply Chain section.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Prices are subject to change without notice.