Along with other Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan is transforming the region into a major silicon alloy hub.

The Qaragandy Power Silicon Company is building a silicon alloy plant in Kazakhstan’s Karaganda region. The plant, which will have a total capacity of up to 95ktpy of ferrosilicon (75% Si), will be equipped with four electric arc furnaces.

According to local media reports, the first phase of production is expected to be commissioned in September 2025. The project envisages further development encompassing the complete production chain, starting with on-site quartz mining. The company plans to export most of the plant’s output.

In recent years, Kazakhstan has begun to emerge as a significant silicon alloy hub. In particular, YDD Corporation, which has been operating since 2019, runs a plant equipped with four furnaces and an installed ferrosilicon capacity of 240ktpy.

Furthermore, the commissioning of EkibastuzFerroAlloys’ plant in Ekibastuz in the Pavlodar region is scheduled for 2026. The plant will also have a capacity of 240ktpy of ferrosilicon (at the start of construction in 2023, the announced capacity was significantly lower at 80ktpy).

In 2024, Kazakhstan exported around 105kt of ferrosilicon (>55% Si), and the largest buyers were the EU (47%), Japan (23%), and the USA (8%). In March 2025, the US Department of Commerce announced its final affirmative determinations in the antidumping and countervailing duty investigations into ferrosilicon imports from Kazakhstan, among other countries.

The announced dumping margins were relatively low (between 6.01% and 6.20%) for producers in Kazakhstan. Similarly, final subsidy rates for YDD Corporation and all other producers were set at 16.76%; however, Kazchrome and TELF were hit with significantly higher rates of 265.38%, essentially closing the US market to these companies. Among the main advantages of manufacturing within the country, insiders note the availability of high-quality raw materials and preferential electricity tariffs.

In addition to Kazakhstan, other countries in the region, notably Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, are developing silicon production. In the latter, Slovakian ferroalloy producer OFZ plans to start production of ferrosilicon. According to insiders, the first furnace (with a capacity of up to 1ktpm ) is expected to be launched by December 2025.