News on GCL-Poly

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

Polysilicon plant of Xinjiang Central Hoshine Silicon in the Ganquanbao Economic and Technological Development Zone of Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region

Polysilicon capacity acquisition: The Emperor’s New Clothes

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The planned fund of major Chinese polysilicon manufacturers to buy up excess production capacity is counterproductive, unnecessary and not viable. A critical analysis by a Chinese author.

Marketing claim of a purity of “up to 12 nines” by Hemlock Semiconductor for its electronic-grade polysilicon, at the CRU Silicon Market Forum 2025 in Lyon on September 25, 2025

A silicon purity of 12N only exists in the world of marketers

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Although claimed again and again, a purity of 99.9999999999% (twelve nines or briefly 12N) is not achieved in the production of electronic-grade polysilicon for semiconductors.

REC Silicon’s fluidized bed reactor plant for granular polysilicon in Moses Lake, Washington (USA) at night

How Hanwha sabotaged REC Silicon’s granular-polysilicon plant

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Court documents fuel suspicion that Hanwha’s acquisition of U.S.-based silane and former polysilicon manufacturer REC Silicon at a fraction of its original value has followed the script for a corporate raid.

Polysilicon EBITDA margins of Wacker, Daqo and OCI from Q2 2024 through Q2 2025

Polysilicon maker OCI plunges into red after halting production

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While the Malaysian manufacturer fell behind the EBITDA margin of its German competitor Wacker in the second quarter, Chinese producer Daqo suffered from the low polysilicon price on the domestic market.

Polysilicon EBITDA margins of OCI, Wacker and Daqo from Q1 2024 through Q1 2025

Polysilicon maker OCI returns to profit and overtakes Wacker

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While the Malaysian manufacturer exceeded the EBITDA margin of its German competitor in the first quarter, Chinese producer Daqo struggled with the low polysilicon price on the domestic market.

Polysilicon spot prices from December 2024 through March 26, 2025

Why the polysilicon price has been cemented and can’t rise soon

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The huge inventory mountain piled up by Chinese polysilicon manufacturers in 2024 is hardly carried off. This is why the polysilicon price has not risen despite a price rally downstream.

Polysilicon EBITDA margins of OCI, Daqo, Wacker and REC Silicon from Q4 2023 through Q4 2024

Wacker copes with polysilicon headwinds better than its peers

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The German polysilicon manufacturer improved its EBITDA margin in the fourth quarter, whereas its competitors OCI, Daqo and REC Silicon struggled with various, partly self-induced problems.

Monthly PV installations in China in 2024 versus 2023, cumulated from January through December. Unit: 10,000 kW

China drives up annual PV installations to over 340 GW in 2024

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The world’s largest solar market achieved a growth rate of 28% in2024. The usual year-end rally pushed new installations to 85 GW in December alone – as much as the USA and India installed together over the whole year.

A screenshot from a social media video shows officials covering the body of a worker killed by an explosion at the polysilicon plant of OCI Malaysia (OCIM) in May 2022

OCI today means Organized Corporate Irresponsibility – Opinion

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The massive explosion at OCI’s polysilicon plant in Malaysia in August 2024 is only the culmination of a long accident series and result of an irresponsible management. A commenting analysis.

Potential failure causes of the explosion at the polysilicon plant of OCI Malaysia (OCIM) on August 14, 2024

The accident at OCIM’s polysilicon plant shouts for more safety

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The severe explosion at the polysilicon plant of OCI Malaysia (OCIM) in August 2024, which cost two workers their lives, has revealed serious safety gaps. What an expert recommends for process safety.