Silicon Manganese alloy is a ferroalloy composed of manganese ore, silicon, iron, and a small amount of carbon and other elements. It is widely used in the production of ferroalloys and is a key component along with ferrosilicon and ferromanganese.
The silicomanganese alloy has a strong affinity for oxygen due to the presence of silicon and manganese, making it a strong deoxidizer. It can produce multiple deoxidation products. Additionally, Silicon Manganese alloy has advantages such as a low melting point, high hardness, large particle size, corrosion resistance, and good heat resistance.
Similar to the production process of other ferroalloys, Silicon Manganese alloy is primarily produced by reducing manganese ore and silicon ore into manganese oxide and silicon dioxide in a smelting furnace. This reduction process occurs under the catalytic effect of carbon and with the continuous action of fluxes such as limestone, dolomite, and fluorite.
The production of Si-Mn alloy requires raw materials such as manganese ore, silicon ore, iron-containing materials, coke, limestone, dolomite, and fluorite. The quality of Silicon Manganese alloy is mainly influenced by the quality of manganese ore, which is the primary raw material. Additionally, the production of Silicon Manganese alloy requires electricity, and fluctuations in electricity prices can also impact the manufacturing of Silicon Manganese alloy.
As a major component of ferroalloys, Silicon Manganese alloy is widely used in various industries in modern industrial and economic sectors. Similar to downstream applications of ferroalloys, Silicon Manganese alloy is mainly applied in the steel industry, accounting for over 90% of its manganese consumption. A small portion of Silicon Manganese alloy is also used in the chemical industry, light industry, building materials industry, electronics industry, and other fields.
The production of the silicomanganese alloy is closely related to the abundance of local resources. In China, major manganese ore deposits are found in Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Hunan, Sichuan, Guangxi, and other regions, with a high concentration of production. However, due to the low grade of domestic manganese ore, a large amount of high-grade manganese ore needs to be imported every year.
Over 90% of Silicon Manganese alloy is used in the downstream steel industry, while a small portion is applied in the chemical industry, light industry, building materials industry, electronics industry, and other scattered sectors.
Due to its role as a deoxidizer and alloying agent in the steel production process, as well as its significance as a major raw material for medium and low-carbon ferromanganese production, Silicon Manganese alloy is a widely used and high-volume ferroalloy.
The supply and demand situation of Silicon Manganese alloy may require appropriate supplementation through import trade. However, compared to domestic trade data, the import and export volume of Silicon Manganese alloy in China is relatively low. Before the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, China’s imports of Silicon Manganese alloy exceeded its exports. However, with the global spread of the pandemic and the severe impact on the global economy, the global production of Silicon Manganese alloy has declined. As global crude steel production slowly recovers, alloy demand begins to rebound. China’s control of the pandemic has been ahead of other countries, leading to higher Silicon Manganese alloy exports compared to imports.
Silicon Manganese is an essential material in steelmaking, and its price fluctuation is influenced by factors such as product prices, national industrial policies, environmental policies, and seasonal factors.