News on shutdown

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

Polysilicon price trend 2023 versus 2011

The crash of the polysilicon price was merely a matter of time

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After the crash below US$10 per kg, the global polysilicon price has not yet reached its bottom. This lies below US$7 per kg – the cash cost level of the last producer needed to satisfy demand.

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

OCI’s polysilicon business mainly depends on customer Longi

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OCI’s Malaysian polysilicon subsidiary has signed a three-year supply contract with Longi, the world’s largest solar wafer maker. The volume of 77,700 tons will fill OCI’s production capacity for the most part.

The factory gate of Sichuan Yongxiang’s polysilicon plant in Leshan after the flood had receded on August 20, 2020

After the flood, Tongwei’s polysilicon plant shut for two months

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After a once-in-a-century flood in mid-August, Tongwei’s older polysilicon plant with a capacity of 20,000 metric tons in Leshan, Sichuan province will remain out of operation until mid-October.

Wacker’s integrated chemical factory in Burghausen, Bavaria

Covid-19 impact hits polysilicon manufacturers Wacker and OCI

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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.

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

Opinion: OCI hoists white flag against Chinese state capitalism

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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.

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.

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

Non-Chinese polysilicon manufacturers return to negative EBITDA

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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).

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

REC Silicon mothballs polysilicon plant in Moses Lake as expected

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In view of no visible progress in the trade negotiations between the USA and China, REC Silicon has placed its fluidized bed reactor (FBR) polysilicon plant at Moses Lake in a long-term shutdown.

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

REC Silicon delays decision on shutdown of FBR polysilicon plant

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While trade negotiations between the USA and China have stalled, polysilicon manufacturer REC Silicon puts its last hope in talks between the two rivals at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan.

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

REC Silicon raises $20 million to bridge time until U.S.-China deal

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U.S.-based polysilicon manufacturer REC Silicon has raised $20 million through a private placement to contain liquidity until the U.S. strike a deal in the trade talks with China.