Brazilian silicon metal exports in March increased by 29 percent year-on-year, according to figures from the country’s foreign trade ministry, MDIC. A total of 17,503 mt of the metal was exported from Brazil in March 2017, compared with 13,586 mt in March 2016.
The US was the main destination for the silicon metal, used for steelmaking alloys, with shipments of 8,898 mt in March 2017 compared to 4,051 mt in March 2016.
The trend continues from increased full-year export shipments of 184,730 mt in 2016, up from 98,890 mt in 2015, reflecting a year-on-year increase of almost 87 percent.
According to sources, January and February of 2017 also marked export increases primarily due to demand from the US and the EU.