How much silicon does China produce and export?
China is the largest producer of silicon: 4 million tonnes in 2025, 87% of the world's 4.6 million tonnes (USGS MCS). It is the largest exporter by value: $1.6 billion in 2024, 41% of world exports of silicon metal (HS 280469) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is Thailand, which takes 16% of its silicon exports by value.
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China's silicon production
| World rank | Production (tonnes) | Share of world | Ten-year growth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 million tonnes | 87% | — | 2025 |
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, MCS 2026.
China's silicon exports
| World rank | Export value | Share of world exports | Quantity (tonnes) | Average value per tonne | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.6 billion | 41% | 734,285 t | $2,236 | 2024 |
CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 280469 (Silicon, less than 99.99% silicon by weight).
Where China's silicon goes
| Destination | Value | Share of China's exports |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand | $265M | 16% |
| Japan | $255M | 16% |
| India | $165M | 10% |
| South Korea | $145M | 8.8% |
| United Arab Emirates | $123M | 7.5% |
China as a buyer of silicon
China imported $163.1 million of silicon metal (HS 280469) in 2024, 4% of world imports, ranked #9.
Cite as: Commodity Origins, "China silicon: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/CHN/silicon/ (CC BY 4.0). Rankings count only countries reporting to the sources named; this page is shown only for top-five producers or exporters with at least 3% of the world total. Report an issue with this page.