Silicon and its end-uses
Silicon is used in the production of steel, cast irons, superalloys and other alloys, as well as in ceramics and bricks, among other more high-profile uses. As the similarities in the names suggest, silicon is also the basis for omnipresent silicones - silicon-based polymers. As polysilicon—a particularly pure form of silicon—silicon is vital for the photovoltaic industry. Another important use of silicon is the use of highly refined silicon in electronics, often as semiconductors for discrete devices and integrated circuits. The global silicon chip/semiconductor shortage also thrust silicon into the international spotlight when it began during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.The United States silicon industry
The United States' silicon production amounted to an estimated 310,000 metric tons in 2022. U.S. silicon exports stood at some 8,000 metric tons of ferrosilicon and 49,000 metric tons of silicon metal in 2022. On the other hand, U.S. silicon imports amounted to 200,000 metric tons of ferrosilicon and 120,000 metric tons of silicon metal that year. Russia and Brazil are the leading exporters of silicon to the United States, accounting for 22 percent and 20 percent shares of total U.S. silicon imports between 2018 and 2021, respectively. The consumption volume of silicon in the United States was 570,000 metric tons in 2022.
