FerroAtlantica is selling its silicon for very competitive prices to retain market share ahead of the restart of its French production and to keep Chinese material out of Europe as the European Commission¡¯s ruling on anti-dumping duties approaches, according to market participants.

    The sale of several truckloads of 553 silicon for €1,850 ($2,497) per tonne on an in-warehouse Rotterdam basis to a consumer who urgently needed material surprised traders, who said the ferro-alloys producer could have argued for a much higher price.

    ¡°€1,850 is astonishing,¡± said a producer source, noting that some

other suppliers are sold out for the first quarter.

    ¡°Some people in the EU [European Union] are frustrated at the situation because they can¡¯t find material,¡± he said.

    The low sales price contrasted with higher offer prices from traders, who are offering the same grade of material at over €1,900 per tonne.

    ¡°€1,950 is expected,¡± said a trader. But consumers can buy material within the European Union and from Norway at prices below the level that Chinese material is available.

    FerroAtlantica aims to keep Chinese sellers out of the market

ahead of its restart on April 1 and the review of the 49% anti-dumping duty by the commission, some market sources said.

    A ruling is expected in May, with publication in the official journal

by June 4.

    FerroAtlantica declined to comment.