WEEKLY: China's SiMn prices remain firm, output down

China's silicomanganese (SiMn) prices remained firm over March 23-27, supported by domestic smelters' higher smelting costs, Mysteel data shows. However, their output of the ferroalloy retreated given the sustained pressure weighing on the smelters' business operations.

On March 27, Mysteel assessed the national price of 6517 SiMn at Yuan 6,161/tonne ($892/t) including the 13% VAT, increasing by Yuan 117/t from one week earlier. SiMn prices in the derivative market also strengthened, with the most-traded contract on the Zhengzhou Futures Exchange for delivery in May closing the