News on Wacker

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

Wacker’s integrated chemical factory in Burghausen, Bavaria

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Strongly reduced demand for solar-grade polysilicon due to the Covid-19 pandemic and lower prices have left their mark in the financial figures of Wacker and OCI for the second quarter.

Sales, EBITDA and Capex of Wacker’s polysilicon division in Q1 2020 versus Q4 2019 and Q1 2019

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In response to slumping demand for solar-grade polysilicon in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, chemicals group Wacker has reduced the utilization rate of its German polysilicon plants to 70%.

EBITDA of Wacker’s polysilicon division from 2007 through 2019

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Although expecting a further loss for its polysilicon division in 2020 on par with that in 2019, management of German chemicals group Wacker has expressed confidence in the polysilicon business.

Polysilicon EBITDA margins of Daqo, OCI, Wacker and REC Silicon from Q4 2018 through Q4 2019

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After doubling its production capacity, China-based polysilicon manufacturer Daqo has reached record-low manufacturing costs (including depreciation) of $6.38/kg and cash production costs of $5.47/kg.

Polysilicon EBITDA and Operating Margins of OCI and Wacker from Q1 2018 through Q4 2019

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The Korean polysilicon manufacturer OCI abandons a market volume of 50,000 tons despite a competitive electricity rate for its plant in Malaysia. Johannes Bernreuter, Head of Bernreuter Research, comments on the decision.

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

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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

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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.

Depreciation rates of Daqo New Energy and Wacker Polysilicon from Q3 2018 through Q3 2019 and estimate for full 2019

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Leading German polysilicon manufacturer Wacker has announced it will take a massive impairment of €750 million (US$832 million) on the carrying value of its polysilicon plants in its 2019 financial statements.

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

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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%.

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

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Polysilicon makers OCI, REC Silicon and Wacker all landed in red territory in the third quarter. Operating EBITDA margins ranged from -3.4% (OCI) to -9.3% (REC Silicon) to -13.3% (Wacker).