News on electronic grade

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 OCI in Bintulu, a coastal city in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia

OCI planning to expand its polysilicon capacity by 35,000 tons

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Polysilicon manufacturer OCI is getting closer to a decision to increase the capacity of its plant in Malaysia by 30,000 to 40,000 tons. In 2024 the plant would then have a total capacity of 65,000 to 75,000 tons.

Polysilicon EBITDA margins of Daqo, Wacker, OCI and REC Silicon from Q3 2020 through Q3 2021

Increase of polysilicon EBITDA margins slowing at a high level

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Polysilicon manufacturers Daqo, Wacker and OCI compensate the price spike of silicon metal feedstock and still increase their high margins, driven by strong demand in the third quarter.

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

New leadership at U.S. polysilicon makers Wacker and Hemlock

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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.

Polysilicon EBITDA margins of Daqo, OCI, Wacker and REC Silicon from Q2 2020 through Q2 2021

Price rally drives polysilicon EBITDA margins beyond 40%

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While non-Chinese polysilicon manufacturers OCI and Wacker enjoy high margins, Xinjiang-based Daqo New Energy has already announced the next major expansion to 270,000 tons in China by the end of 2024.

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

Equity raise: Sale of REC Silicon’s plant in Butte is off the table

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After an equity raise, U.S.-based polysilicon manufacturer REC Silicon has abandoned its plan to sell its cash cow, the silane and electronic-grade polysilicon plant in Butte, Montana.

Groundbreaking for Asia Silicon’s polysilicon plant expansion in Xining, the capital of Qinghai province, China

Asia Silicon to expand its polysilicon capacity by 30,000 tons

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Asia Silicon, China’s sixth-largest polysilicon manufacturer, will increase its production capacity to 50,000 metric tons by 2022 and has closed a five-year supply contract with wafer maker Longi.

REC Silicon defers sale of Butte plant, keeps Moses Lake closed

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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.

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

Wacker starts short-time work at its German polysilicon plants

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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%.

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

REC Silicon intends to reopen its polysilicon plant in Moses Lake

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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.

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.