What You Really Need to Watch Is Not the Quote — but the Cost Logic Behind It
If you are sourcing black silicon carbide for grinding wheels, coated abrasives, refractories, or surface finishing, you have likely faced this situation:
The same product name — “Black SiC 98%” — yet price differences between suppliers can be surprisingly large.
In most cases, this has little to do with “who dares to earn more.” It comes down to different quality definitions, different process routes, and completely different cost structures.
This article breaks down the real pricing logic of Chinese black silicon carbide abrasives, so every comparison you make is based on risk control, not guesswork.
First, Define the “Price Object”:
What Kind of Black Silicon Carbide Are You Actually Buying?
In China, black silicon carbide prices usually fall into three distinct categories:
A. Lump / Crude / 0–10 mm
This is close to a raw material form, and prices are highly sensitive to electricity cost, petroleum coke prices, and furnace operating rates.
In domestic market reports, you will often see classifications such as Grade I / II / III, for example:
- Grade I 98% lump
- Grade II lump
- Grade III 70-grade 0–5 mm
These prices fluctuate quickly with energy and raw material conditions.
B. Black SiC Grits (F6–F220, etc.)
This range is widely used in bonded and coated abrasives.
Pricing here depends much more on:
- SiC purity consistency
- Iron (Fe) content
- Magnetic material control
- Particle size distribution (PSD) stability
- Screening accuracy and dust removal level
Even with the same “98%” label, real usability can vary significantly.
C. Micro Powder (F230-F2000 / JIS #240–#8000, etc.)
Micro powder pricing behaves more like a processed material than a commodity.
Key cost drivers include:
- Acid washing and water washing
- Overflow classification
- Fine grading equipment
- Particle size distribution (PSD) tail control (e.g. D94 / D95)
- Cleanliness and stability
This is often where the largest price gap appears — and also where performance differences become obvious in use.
Where Are Market Prices Roughly Positioned?
Important note: The following figures are public reference ranges, not contract prices. Your actual cost will also depend on packaging, Incoterms, destination, volume, and quality requirements.
Domestic reference (lump / crude, typical factory-level ranges)
Market information has shown references such as:
- Grade I lump: approx. RMB 5,600–5,700 / mt
- Grade II lump: approx. RMB 4,550–4,800 / mt
- Grade III 70-grade 0–5 mm: approx. RMB 3,350–3,700 / mt
These numbers vary by region and timing.
Export-oriented reference (common EXW / FOB logic)
Typical market ranges seen for export-oriented products include:
- Black SiC 88% min, 0–10 mm, EXW China
- Black SiC 98% min, F16–F100, EXW China
- Black SiC 98% min, F16–F100, FOB China
When requesting prices, always ask suppliers to clearly state:
- Purity (88 / 95 / 97 / 98%)
- Standard (FEPA / JIS / GB)
- Trade term (EXW / FOB / CIF)
- Packaging
- Processing steps (acid-washed, overflow, magnetic separation, etc.)
Otherwise, you are not comparing the same product — even if the name looks identical.
What Really Drives Black SiC Prices?
Focus on These 5 Key Factors
① Electricity Cost & Energy Policy — the Absolute Cost Floor
Black silicon carbide is a high-energy-consumption product. Electricity pricing and production restrictions directly translate into cost changes. Many “sudden” price increases are simply delayed energy cost pass-through.
② Petroleum Coke — the Cost Slope
Petroleum coke price movements strongly affect smelting cost.
When coke rises, black SiC cost follows — even if the market reacts with a time lag.
③ Supply, Demand & Operating Rates — Short-Term Volatility
When downstream demand from abrasives, refractories, or export orders becomes concentrated, lump and crude tighten first, then the pressure moves downstream to grits and micro powders.
④ Processing Route — Whether the Material Is Truly Usable
Two products can both claim “98%,” yet differ greatly depending on:
- Magnetic separation depth
- Dust and ultra-fine removal
- Closed-loop screening stability
- Acid washing and overflow classification (for micro powders)
Higher processing cost often means:
- Fewer complaints
- Lower scrap and rework
- Less formulation adjustment
- Fewer production interruptions
These savings rarely appear on the invoice — but they are very real.
⑤ Trade Terms & Destination — Don’t Confuse Freight with Material
FOB vs. CIF and freight fluctuations often create the illusion of “price changes.” In reality, it may simply be logistics cost moving, not material value.
For real comparison, always benchmark on:
- The same FOB port, or
- The same CIF destination
Otherwise, you are comparing shipping, not silicon carbide.
Conclusion:
You Are Not Buying “Cheap” — You Are Buying “Controllable”
If black silicon carbide is treated as a pure commodity, pricing will always feel like gambling. If it is treated as a process capability, procurement becomes predictable and profitable.
Why More Professional Buyers Choose GREAT Abrasive for Black Silicon Carbide
Once black silicon carbide is managed as a long-term production input, not a one-off purchase, the role of the supplier fundamentally changes.
You are no longer looking for someone who can “quote a number.” You need a partner who can deliver stability, consistency, and predictability.
That is exactly where GREAT Abrasive focuses its value.
GREAT Abrasive: Controlled Delivery from China’s Black SiC Supply Chain
GREAT Abrasive works deeply across the Chinese black silicon carbide industry, building control at key stages:
Upstream smelting Long-term cooperation with mature smelters, with clear differentiation between furnace types and real-grade material — avoiding nominal “98%” with unstable reality.
Midstream processing Coverage of:
- Grits (F6–F220, FEPA / JIS / GB)
- Micro powders (F240-F2000, JIS #240–#8000)
With tailored routes including magnetic separation, dust removal, acid washing, water washing, overflow classification, and precision grading — not one product for all customers.
Quality & consistency management
Quality & Consistency Management
Each batch can be supported with:
🔹 Documentation & Traceability
- Clear COA (chemical composition, PSD data, bulk density, magnetic properties)
- Full batch traceability from raw materials to finished goods
- Retained reference samples for each production lot
🔹 Process Control & Repeatability
- Standardized production processes with fixed key parameters
- In-process quality control (IPQC) at critical stages
- PSD tail control (e.g. D94 / D97) for fine powders
- Controlled crushing, classification, washing, and drying steps
🔹 Testing & Measurement Reliability
- Calibrated testing equipment with regular verification
- Consistent test methods aligned with FEPA / JIS / customer-specific standards
- Internal cross-check testing before release
🔹 Stability & Consistency Assurance
- Lot-to-lot consistency monitoring
- Statistical trend analysis for key parameters (PSD, chemistry, BD)
- Change control procedures for raw materials, processes, or equipment
🔹 Packaging & Handling Control
- Standardized packaging specifications
- Moisture and contamination control during packing
- Clear batch labeling on each bag / big bag
🔹 Non-conformance & Corrective Actions
- Root cause analysis for any deviation
- Corrective and preventive actions (CAPA)
- Continuous improvement feedback loop
So your production line receives stable input, not surprises.
Not the Lowest Price — but a Price That Makes Sense
GREAT Abrasive does not compete on short-term lowest pricing.
And you already know why:
- Low price ≠ low total cost
The real cost usually comes from:
- Batch instability
- Customer complaints
- Rework and production interruptions
- Delivery uncertainty
That is why our focus is on:
- Pricing aligned with real production processes
- Predictable and transparent communication on cost fluctuations
- Clear, auditable quotation logic — no surprises later
As a result, GREAT Abrasive’s customers are primarily:
- European and North American abrasive manufacturers
- Tier-one partners such as Tyrolit and Imerys
- Procurement teams that value consistency, traceability, and long-term stability over short-term price wins
If You Are Reviewing Black Silicon Carbide Supply Options
Before your next inquiry, GREAT Abrasive helps you do one thing first:
Break “price” down into the cost structure that actually matters to your process.
That includes:
- Which technical parameters truly impact your product performance
- Which specifications are most often blurred or loosely defined in the market
- How to benchmark Chinese suppliers on a genuinely comparable basis — not just on paper
So what you receive is not just a quotation, but a safer, more rational procurement decision — built for consistency, traceability, and long-term stability.
China does not lack black silicon carbide suppliers. What is scarce is a partner you can rely on long term.
If you wish, GREAT Abrasive is ready to start from your application and process requirements — not from a number on a quotation.
Because the right decision is not about who is cheapest today, but who remains consistent, transparent, and accountable tomorrow.
