List of countries by silicon production
This is a list of countries by silicon production in 2024, based on USGS figures.[1]
Silicon (Si) is a light chemical element that combines with oxygen and other elements to form silicates. Silicon in the form of silicates constitutes more than 25% of the Earth's crust. Silica (SiO2) as quartz or quartzite is used to produce silicon ferroalloys and silicon metal. Demand for silicon ferroalloys is driven principally by the production of cast iron and steel. Silicon metal, which generally is produced like ferrosilicon in submerged-arc electric furnaces, is used not as a ferroalloy, but rather for alloying with aluminum and for production of chemicals, especially silicones. Small quantities of silicon are processed into high-purity silicon for use in the semiconductor industry.[2]
In 2024, China accounted for almost 80% of total global estimated silicon production.
Rank | Country/region | Ferrosilicon production (thousands of metric tons per year) | Silicon metal production (thousands of metric tons per year) | Total silicon production (thousands of metric tons per year) |
---|---|---|---|---|
— | World | 5,100 | 4,600 | 9,700 |
1 | ![]() |
3,500 | 3,900 | 7,400 |
2 | ![]() |
470 | 50 | 520 |
3 | ![]() |
200 | 190 | 390 |
4 | ![]() |
- | - | 310[3] |
5 | ![]() |
180 | 120 | 300 |
6 | ![]() |
130 | 7 | 137 |
7 | ![]() |
130 | - | 130 |
8 | ![]() |
20 | 90 | 110 |
9 | ![]() |
70 | 20 | 90 |
10 | ![]() |
80 | - | 80 |
11 | ![]() |
60 | - | 60 |
12 | ![]() |
20 | 30 | 50 |
13 | ![]() |
40 | 5 | 45 |
14 | ![]() |
- | 40 | 40 |
15 | ![]() |
30 | - | 30 |
Other countries | 130 | 78 | 208 |
References
[edit]- ^ Mineral Commodity Summary 2025
- ^ "Silicon Statistics and Information | U.S. Geological Survey". www.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
- ^ "U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2023" (PDF).