# Silicones: Feedstocks

Why power-hungry silicon metal sets the cost

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/silicones/feedstocks/

What this tab covers What it is made from and what it feeds: the raw materials and energy per tonne with their share of cost (linked to the commodity table), who is low-cost and why, and the chemicals made from it.

Silicones are made from silicon metal and methanol, with chlorine circulating as HCl and methyl chloride. Silicon metal is about 40-50% of DMC cash cost, and it is energy-intensive to make (11-13 MWh per t, silicon tile). Producers integrated into their own silicon metal on cheap power, mostly in China, are lowest cost.

#### Inputs per tonne

| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Si Silicon](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/silicon/) | about 0.42-0.45 t per t siloxane (stoichiometric 0.38 t plus yield losses, indicative) | silicon backbone | about 40-50% of DMC cash cost (indicative) | silicon tile (USGS MCS 2026); some Chinese monomer makers bought 421 silicon below CNY8,500/t in June 2025 (SMM) |
| **Methanol (chemical tile: methanol)** | about 0.95 t per t siloxane (indicative) | methyl groups via methyl chloride | about 20-25% (indicative) | indicative; $246.5/t CFR China, Dec 2025 (S&P Global via methanol tile) |
| **Hydrogen chloride and chlorine (chemical tiles: hydrochloric_acid, chlorine)** | recycled; small make-up (indicative) | carrier for methyl chloride | small | indicative |
| [Cu Copper](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/copper/) | kilograms per t (indicative) | direct-process catalyst | small | indicative |
| [Pt Platinum](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/) | ppm levels (indicative) | curing catalyst | small but notable for LSR | indicative |

#### Who is low-cost, and why

Chinese producers integrated into silicon metal in Xinjiang, Yunnan and Sichuan are lowest cost. Wacker, Elkem and Shin-Etsu are mid-curve with specialty mix. Small non-integrated Western monomer plants such as Barry are highest cost and are closing.

#### Raw materials on the commodity table
[Si Silicon](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/silicon/)

#### What it is made into

| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| [Con Construction chemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/) | silicone sealants and water repellents |
| [Add Polymer additives](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polymer_additives/) | silanes and silicone process aids |

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/silicones/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/silicones/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/silicones/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/silicones/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/silicones/production/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/silicones/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/silicones/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/silicones/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/silicones/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/silicones/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/silicones/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/silicones/links/index.md)