Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Rusal to Halt Output at Russia’s Largest Refined‑Silicon Plant From Jan. 1, 2026

The company cites a global oversupply of silicon driven by cut‑price imports as the trigger for the shutdown.

Overview

  • AO Kremniy has formally notified Irkutsk regional authorities and the Shelekhov administration and plans joint steps to limit social fallout.
  • Kremniy Ural will continue operating next year but at reduced capacity, according to the company.
  • Rusal previously said it would cut 2025 silicon output by 35% to about 35,000 tonnes, down from 53,400 tonnes last year.
  • Rusal’s two plants are the country’s only refined‑silicon producers, with capacities of 34,000 tonnes at AO Kremniy and 27,000 tonnes at Kremniy Ural against a domestic market of roughly 45,000 tonnes.
  • Analysts attribute the price slump to low‑cost Chinese exports, with sharper declines reported where protective tariffs are absent, including parts of the EU and the EAEU.