Silicon - Production, Reserves & Supply Concentration
An industrial material used in alloys, silicones, solar cells and semiconductor supply chains.The tables show silicon metal and ferrosilicon output as separate industrial production series.
Silicon Global Production & Country Share
Measure: Silicon metal (thousand metric tons)
Silicon Production by Country (2020-2025)
Silicon metal · Unit: thousand metric tons
| Rank | Country | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e | Share | 5Y Chg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | China | - | - | 2,900 | 3,000 | 4,800 | 4,000 | 87.0% | - |
| #2 | Brazil | - | - | 202 | 200 | 190 | 180 | 3.9% | - |
| #3 | Norway | - | - | 144 | 140 | 140 | 130 | 2.8% | - |
| #4 | France | - | - | 96 | 90 | 90 | 68 | 1.5% | - |
| #5 | Australia | - | - | 48 | 50 | 47 | 47 | 1.0% | - |
| #6 | Russia | - | - | 54 | 50 | 59 | 35 | 0.8% | - |
| #7 | Canada | - | - | 29 | 30 | 34 | 34 | 0.7% | - |
| #8 | Iceland | - | - | 49 | 50 | 28 | 16 | 0.3% | - |
| #9 | Germany | - | - | 62 | 60 | 29 | 13 | 0.3% | - |
| #10 | South Africa | - | - | - | - | 15 | 10 | 0.2% | - |
| #11 | Kazakhstan | - | - | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 0.2% | - |
| #12 | Spain | - | - | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 0.1% | - |
| - | World Total | - | - | 3,670 | 3,800 | 5,500 | 4,600 | 100.0% | - |
U.S. Supply, Consumption & Net Import Reliance (2021-2025)
| Salient Measure | Unit | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon: Production, ferrosilicon and silicon metal | thousand metric tons | W | W | W | W | W |
| Silicon: Imports for consumption: Ferrosilicon, all grades | thousand metric tons | 125 | 175 | 154 | 126 | 110 |
| Silicon: Imports for consumption: Silicon metal | thousand metric tons | 97 | 116 | 79 | 117 | 180 |
| Silicon: Exports: Ferrosilicon, all grades | thousand metric tons | 7 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| Silicon: Exports: Silicon metal | thousand metric tons | 53 | 47 | 42 | 40 | 30 |
| Silicon: Consumption, apparent, ferrosilicon and silicon metal | thousand metric tons | W | W | W | W | W |
| Silicon: U.S. Net Import Reliance | % of consumption | <50% | >50% | >50% | <50% | <50% |
| Silicon: U.S. Net Import Reliance | % of consumption | <25% | <50% | <50% | <50% | >50% |
| Silicon: U.S. Net Import Reliance | % of consumption | <50% | <50% | <50% | <50% | >50% |
Frequently Asked Questions - Silicon
Which country leads silicon production (ferrosilicon)?
China leads the 2025 USGS country table for ferrosilicon, with 3,500 thousand metric tons (estimated) (70.0% of the reported world total). World output was 5,000 thousand metric tons in 2025.
Which country leads silicon production (silicon metal)?
China leads the 2025 USGS country table for silicon metal, with 4,000 thousand metric tons (estimated) (87.0% of the reported world total). World output was 4,600 thousand metric tons in 2025.
Does USGS publish a country reserve ranking for silicon?
The USGS chapter describes the available reserve information. The tables show silicon metal and ferrosilicon output as separate industrial production series.
What is US net import reliance and import sourcing for silicon?
In 2025, US net import reliance was reported at <50% (Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption: Ferrosilicon, all grades). Across 2021-24, leading US import sources (Ferrosilicon) were Russia (30%), Brazil (16%), Canada (13%).
How is silicon classified on the US Critical Minerals List and what are its primary uses?
Status: Listed on 2025 US List (Added in 2025 Final List). Primary applications cited in USGS summaries include: Ferrosilicon for steel deoxidation, metallurgical-grade silicon for aluminum alloys and silicones, and polysilicon for solar PV and semiconductor wafers. USGS separates industrial ferrosilicon and silicon metal smelter output (measured by gross weight or silicon content). Downstream ultra-high-purity polysilicon and single-crystal semiconductor wafer fabrication are distinct processing stages.