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.

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

Has REC Silicon been taken hostage by its shareholder Hanwha?

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After a massive investment, the U.S.-based manufacturer will shut down the production of granular polysilicon at its plant in Moses Lake, Washington. The decision raises some questions.

Polysilicon EBITDA margins of OCI Malaysia, Wacker, Daqo and REC Silicon from Q3 2023 through Q3 2024

OCI and Wacker feel weak demand due to US anti-dumping case

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Market uncertainty weighs on the EBITDA margin of both polysilicon manufacturers, whereas Chinese competitor Daqo is still in the red since its average selling price remains below cash costs.

Polysilicon EBITDA margins of OCI Malaysia, Wacker, Daqo and REC Silicon from Q2 2023 through Q2 2024

Margin of Chinese polysilicon maker Daqo crashes into deep red

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Non-Chinese competitors OCI Malaysia and Wacker left Daqo behind as their earnings benefitted from reduced costs and the increased spread to plummeting prices in China in the second quarter.

Polysilicon EBITDA margins of OCI Malaysia, Daqo, Wacker and REC Silicon from Q1 2023 through Q1 2024

Wacker is approaching the margin of Chinese competitor Daqo

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After the polysilicon price in China has fallen even below the cash costs of Daqo, its German competitor Wacker could soon outstrip the EBITDA margin of the Chinese polysilicon manufacturer.

Polysilicon EBITDA margins of OCI Malaysia, Daqo, Wacker and REC Silicon from Q4 2022 through Q4 2023

Polysilicon makers achieved mixed results in the fourth quarter

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The EBITDA margins of OCI Malaysia, Wacker and REC Silicon fell to a various extent and for different reasons. Only Chinese manufacturer Daqo New Energy was able to buck the trend.

Monthly polysilicon price average from October 2011 through December 2023

Why the pork cycle has returned to the polysilicon market

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A period of weak demand until 2020 laid the ground for a polysilicon shortage that has triggered excessive capacity expansion in China. Now overcapacity provokes the next shakeout.

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.