News on China

News on suppliers, market trends and technology innovations in polysilicon and wafer production is selected, assessed and written for you by Bernreuter Research.

OCI’s polysilicon plant in Gunsan, South Korea

OCI stops polysilicon production in Korea after hefty impairment

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The price pressure from low-cost Chinese plants forces OCI, the world’s third-largest polysilicon manufacturer, to stop producing solar-grade polysilicon at its factory in Gunsan, South Korea.

Ministry of Commerce (Mofcom) of China, press conference on February 9, 2017

Chinese media: Bonded trade is only way out of polysilicon duties

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Domestic media speculate that China could allow bonded trade to fulfill its commitment to increasing U.S. polysilicon imports under the Phase 1 trade agreement despite extended duties.

2020 tariffs on polysilicon imports from the USA and South Korea into China

New Chinese polysilicon duties are slap in the face to trade deal

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The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (Mofcom) announced on January 19 that the duties on polysilicon imports from the United States and South Korea will remain unchanged for another five years until 2025.

China’s Vice Premier Liu He (left) and U.S. President Donald Trump present the Phase 1 trade agreement

U.S.-China trade agreement: polysilicon is only on the wish list

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The Phase 1 trade agreement signed by the U.S. and China on January 15 includes solar-grade polysilicon, but the high Chinese import duties on U.S.-made polysilicon remain untouched.

Polysilicon EBITDA margins of Daqo, OCI, REC Silicon and Wacker from Q3 2018 through Q3 2019

Polysilicon producer Daqo breaks the cash cost barrier of $6/kg

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After weaker results in the second quarter due to maintenance, China-based polysilicon manufacturer Daqo New Energy achieved so far unthinkable cash production costs of US$5.85/kg in the third quarter.

China’s market shares in global production capacity along the PV value chain (solar-grade polysilicon, solar ingot, solar wafer, solar cell, solar module)

Wacker to reduce the workforce of its U.S. polysilicon plant by 3%

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Expecting a decrease in demand in view of the shrinking market outside China, Wacker is planning to cut the 650-strong workforce of its U.S. polysilicon plant by 20 employees or around 3%.

Xinte Energy’s polysilicon plant in Urumqi, Xinjiang with sunflowers in the foreground

China-based polysilicon manufacturer Xinte feels the price slump

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Xinte Energy, the second-largest polysilicon manufacturer in China, has issued a profit warning, “mainly due to the significant fall of the sales price of polysilicon.”

REC Silicon’s silane/polysilicon plant in Butte, Montana

REC Silicon mulls selling its cash cow, the Butte polysilicon plant

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REC Silicon has announced considerations to sell its second plant, located in Butte in the U.S. state of Montana, which produces silane and electronic-grade polysilicon for the semiconductor industry.

REC Silicon’s fluidized bed reactor polysilicon plant in Moses Lake, Washington at dusk

REC Silicon mothballs polysilicon plant in Moses Lake as expected

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In view of no visible progress in the trade negotiations between the USA and China, REC Silicon has placed its fluidized bed reactor (FBR) polysilicon plant at Moses Lake in a long-term shutdown.

REC Silicon’s fluidized bed reactor polysilicon plant in Moses Lake, Washington at night

REC Silicon delays decision on shutdown of FBR polysilicon plant

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While trade negotiations between the USA and China have stalled, polysilicon manufacturer REC Silicon puts its last hope in talks between the two rivals at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan.