Top Industries purchasing Silicon (Si)
Silicon (the 2nd most abundant element in Earth's crust) is designated "critical" for High-Purity Silicon Metal (>98% Si) and Polysilicon (>99.9999% Si).
The following list focuses on refined Silicon Metal and Polysilicon, excluding raw silica sand used in glass and concrete.
Major Individual Company Purchasers
Caution: This content was sourced and arranged by AI and thus may be subject to errors, biases, omissions, or antiquation.
This information can provide a general sense of industry dynamics, but may be unreliable in its specifics, or as an isolated basis for investment decisions.
Silicon (the 2nd most abundant element in Earth's crust) is designated "critical" for High-Purity Silicon Metal (>98% Si) and Polysilicon (>99.9999% Si).
The following list focuses on refined Silicon Metal and Polysilicon, excluding raw silica sand used in glass and concrete.
| Rank | Industry | Volume (MT) | % Usage | Primary Applications |
| 1 | Aluminum Alloying | ~3,490,000 | 38.0% | Lightweight auto parts, engine blocks, and structural beams. |
| 2 | Solar Energy (Photovoltaics) | ~2,570,000 | 28.0% | Solar grade polysilicon for monocrystalline wafers/cells. |
| 3 | Chemicals (Silicones) | ~2,390,000 | 26.0% | Sealants, lubricants, medical implants, and cosmetics. |
| 4 | Semiconductors (Chips) | ~320,000 | 3.5% | Electronic grade polysilicon for logic and memory chips. |
| 5 | Iron & Steel (Metallurgy) | ~185,000 | 2.0% | Deoxidizing agent and alloying for electrical steel. |
| 6 | Battery Technology | ~92,000 | 1.0% | Silicon-carbon anodes for high-energy-density EV batteries. |
| 7 | Construction & Building | ~65,000 | 0.7% | High-performance silicone masonry and glazing sealants. |
| 8 | Automotive (Non-Alloy) | ~35,000 | 0.4% | Silicone rubber gaskets, hoses, and tire additives. |
| 9 | Consumer Electronics | ~18,000 | 0.2% | Casing sealants and internal thermal interface materials. |
| 10 | Healthcare & Medical | ~12,000 | 0.1% | Biocompatible tubing, prosthetics, and drug delivery. |
| 11 | Aerospace & Defense | ~8,000 | <0.1% | Radar components and heat-resistant silicone shields. |
| 12 | Renewable Energy (Wind) | ~5,000 | <0.1% | Protective coatings for turbine blades and lubricants. |
| 13 | Telecommunications | ~3,000 | <0.1% | Fiber optic preforms and high-speed switching circuits. |
| 14 | Textiles & Leather | ~2,500 | <0.1% | Waterproofing agents and fabric softeners. |
| 15 | Power Distribution | ~1,500 | <0.1% | Silicone insulators and transformers cooling fluids. |
| 16 | Industrial Machinery | ~1,200 | Trace | Precision bearings and high-temperature seals. |
| 17 | Agricultural Chemicals | ~1,000 | Trace | Adjuvants for pesticides to improve leaf coverage. |
| 18 | Food & Beverage | ~500 | Trace | Anti-foaming agents and food-grade lubricants. |
| 19 | Quantum Computing | ~100 | Trace | Isotopically pure Silicon-28 for qubit substrates. |
| 20 | Personal Care | ~100 | Trace | Volatile silicones for "dry-touch" hair and skin products. |
Major Individual Company Purchasers
- Dow Inc.: One of the world's largest purchasers of silicon metal for its extensive silicone product portfolio used in construction, automotive, and personal care.
- Wacker Chemie AG: A dual purchaser that uses silicon metal for its massive silicone division and is also a top global producer of polysilicon for the solar industry.
- Tesla, Inc.: A significant and growing purchaser of silicon for its Silicon-Anode battery technology, which increases the range of its high-performance EVs.
- JinkoSolar / Longi Green Energy: These Chinese solar giants are the world's largest consumers of solar-grade polysilicon for manufacturing PV panels.
- Intel Corporation / TSMC: These semiconductor leaders are the primary end-users of electronic-grade silicon wafers, purchasing through intermediate wafer fabs like Shin-Etsu.
- Rio Tinto / Alcoa: Major aluminum producers that purchase silicon metal to create the specialized alloys required by the aerospace and automotive industries.
- Shin-Etsu Chemical: A dominant Japanese firm that purchases silicon metal to produce both high-end silicones and the ultra-pure wafers used by global chipmakers.
- Elkem: While a producer, Elkem is a major purchaser of specialized silicon inputs for its high-value "Silicones" and "Foundry" divisions.
- Group14 Technologies: An emerging major purchaser of silicon precursors to manufacture its innovative silicon-carbon battery anode materials for clients like Porsche.
Caution: This content was sourced and arranged by AI and thus may be subject to errors, biases, omissions, or antiquation.
This information can provide a general sense of industry dynamics, but may be unreliable in its specifics, or as an isolated basis for investment decisions.