Platts to clarify Japanese silicon metal specs

Platts is proposing to clarify the specifications for its price assessment for silicon metal in the Japanese market, and to align the naming convention for the price assessment across Platts Metals Alert, Platts Metals Week and Platts Market Data, effective April 12.

The updated specifications reflect what has prevailed in the market and will not result in change to the data history or the consistency of the data going forward.

The name as it appears in Metals Week and Platts Metals Alert will change to Silicon 553 grade, CIF Japan.

In addition, all silicon assessments will be listed under Light Metals in Platts Metals Week and no longer under Ferroalloys.

The assessment will be for imported silicon, CIF Japan, duty-unpaid. Assessed grades will be normalized to a specification with a minimum 98.50% silicon; maximum 0.50% iron; maximum 0.30% calcium and maximum 0.2-0.5% aluminum, lumps size 10-100 mm.

The assessment will encompass free-market material, assessed in $/mt, loaded in bulk or supersacks on oceangoing vessel or packed in seagoing 20 ft or 40 ft container/s and customs sealed at point of origin.

Payment by telegraphic transfer, cash against documents, including original bill of lading and irrevocable letter of credit drawn against approved bank at site or equivalent.

Special packaging and payment terms to be normalized to meet stated specifications. Assessment quantities are 100 mt and greater.

Assessment made Thursdays or closest business day from a survey of producers, traders and consumers.

Please submit comments and/or questions to Anthony Poole, anthony_poole@platts.com or +1 212 904-2992, or Mayumi Watanabe, mayumi_watanabe@platts.com or +81 345 598 205.