News on duties

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

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

REC Silicon keeps the lights on at polysilicon plant in Moses Lake

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U.S.-based polysilicon manufacturer REC Silicon has stopped speculation that its plant in Moses Lake, Washington could be closed.

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

REC Silicon blames layoffs on trade war – that’s only half the truth

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U.S.-based polysilicon manufacturer REC Silicon has blamed the layoff of 100 employees on the trade dispute, but it is more a response to the slump of global demand in the wake of China’s cap on domestic PV installations.

Reopening ceremony for Wacker’s U.S. polysilicon plant in Charleston, Tennessee with Dr. Tobias Brandis, Dr. Rudolf Staudigl, Mary Beth Hudson, Dr. Peter-Alexander Wacker, and David Wilhoit (from left)

Wacker restarts U.S. polysilicon plant after eight-month halt

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After investigating the cause of the hydrogen explosion that occurred on September 7, 2017 and repairing the damaged equipment and building, Wacker has restarted production at its U.S. polysilicon plant near Charleston.

Factory of Solarworld in Arnstadt, Thuringia

Solarworld files for insolvency for the second time in ten months

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Only seven and a half months after emerging from insolvency proceedings in August 2017, German PV module producer Solarworld Industries GmbH has filed for insolvency again.

Monthly polysilicon imports into China from February 2017 through January 2018

Growing mono wafer makers fuel polysilicon imports into China

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After the low in December, polysilicon imports into China surprisingly surged to an unusually large volume of 16,261 metric tons in January, an increase of 29.7% month over month.

Shares of main polysilicon importers in China 2012 through 2017

Section 201 trade case: New hope for Hemlock and REC Silicon?

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Employees of the U.S.-based polysilicon manufacturers Hemlock Semiconductor and REC Silicon have urged U.S. President Trump in two letters to seek a solution for the U.S. polysilicon industry in the trade conflict with China.

Duties on polysilicon imports from South Korea into China (2017 and 2014 tariffs)

China raises duties on polysilicon imports from South Korea

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On November 21, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (Mofcom) announced new duty rates for polysilicon imports from South Korea into China, following a mid-term review that took one year.

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

Rumor: Duty on Korean polysilicon imports into China below 10%

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Taiwanese market researchers, PVinsights and EnergyTrend have spread rumors that future duties on polysilicon imports from South Korea into China would be set at a rate below 10%.

Hemlock Semiconductor’s polysilicon plant in Hemlock, Michigan (USA)

Polysilicon maker Hemlock Semiconductor to lay off 100 workers

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U.S.-based Hemlock Semiconductor, once the world’s largest polysilicon manufacturer, has announced that it will lay off 100 employees, most of them in the first quarter of 2018.

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

REC Silicon curtails production of solar-grade polysilicon in Butte

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U.S.-based manufacturer REC Silicon has curtailed production of solar-grade polysilicon at its facility in Butte, Montana and will focus on electronic grade for the semiconductor industry there.