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.

Polysilicon imports into China from 2017 through 2021

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After a steep drop in 2020, polysilicon imports into China recovered somewhat in 2021. According to Chinese customs statistics, imports grew to 114,203 metric tons, an increase of 13.3% year over year.

Arabinda Ghosh (left), designated Chairman and CEO of Hemlock Semiconductor, and Ken Collins, site leader of Wacker Chemical Corporation’s polysilicon and pyrogenic silica plants in Charleston, Tennessee

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Ken Collins is new site leader of Wacker’s polysilicon plant in Charleston, Tennessee while Arabinda Ghosh will follow Mark Bassett as CEO of competitor Hemlock Semiconductor at year’s end.

The ten most popular posts from Bernreuter Research on LinkedIn in 2020

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“Bad news is good news” – this saying was true for the ten most popular posts from Bernreuter Research on LinkedIn in 2020. Number 1, 3 and 6 in our top ten list dealt with accidents in the polysilicon industry.

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

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U.S.-based polysilicon manufacturer Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation will lay off 50 employees, the company announced internally on June 18.

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In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, U.S.-based polysilicon manufacturer REC Silicon has deferred the sale of its electronic-grade plant in Butte. Its solar-grade plant in Moses Lake remains closed.

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

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As the Phase 1 trade agreement between the USA and China comes into force on February 15, U.S.-based polysilicon manufacturer REC Silicon intends to restart its plant in Moses Lake.

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

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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

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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.

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%.

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