KUCHING: OM Materials (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd’s (OM Sarawak) first-quarter 2025 output was affected by scheduled furnace maintenance, reducing operating days at its Samalaju smelting plant.
Ferrosilicon (FeSi) production dropped 7 per cent quarter-on-quarter to 44,696 tonnes as four furnaces underwent maintenance.
Manganese alloy output also slipped 1.3 per cent to 71,825 tonnes with one furnace offline.
Despite this, manganese sinter ore production for internal use rose to 33,308 tonnes from 23,204 tonnes.
However, FeSi sales climbed 10.6 per cent to 54,403 tonnes, while manganese alloy sales fell 25.1 per cent to 69,393 tonnes due to high shipments in 4Q2024.
OM Holdings Ltd (OMH), which owns OM Sarawak, said one FeSi furnace began major maintenance in April, with another scheduled in June.
On trading update, FeSi prices declined to USD1,120 per tonne (CIF Japan) from USD1,185 amid softer demand and Russian competition.
In contrast, silicon manganese prices rose to USD965 per tonne from USD885, driven by firmer manganese ore prices.
OMH said recent US reciprocal tariffs currently exempt manganese alloys but include FeSi.
“The situation is being monitored,” it said.
OM Sarawak also completed a USD168 million syndicated debt refinancing, plus USD136 million in working capital and guarantee facilities to replace prior project finance arrangements.
