Polysilicon Production Trend Analysis

Raw materials are used in the production process of monocrystalline silicon chips, so the polysilicon is used to be the base, and basically is used to produce all semiconductors. Polysilicon is also the key components of silicon-based solar cells. In recent years, photovoltaic production appeared explosive growth; the availability of polysilicon has attracted a lot of attention.

Generally speaking, semiconductor industry consumption of polysilicon supply accounted for 2/3, and the rest 1/3 proportion is for photovoltaic industry. By the middle of 2000, the solar industry began to consume more available polysilicon, and accounted for more traditional share of its supply, which prompted potential polysilicon shortages. All the industry worried about this situation. In response, polycrystalline silicon vendors ambitiously make capacity expansion; at least 30 new manufacturers are trying to enter the market. Although semiconductor and pv industry has been shown extremely downturn period in 2009, there are still many such new facilities and energy are put into.

Polycrystalline silicon ex-stock prices in the mid-2008 reached the peak of more than $400 / kg, 2009 the pricing turned down. Some long-term contract pricing emerged in this time again. So far, despite the recession is over, polycrystalline silicon ex-stock prices are expected to remain still below 2008 levels; this is because there is a lot of the expansion ability. In 2010 the global polysilicon ability is about 190000 tons, increased 90% compared to the previous year. New distributors accounted for more than a third in 2010 total capacity; polysilicon pv-tech application is the largest polysilicon terminal market. By 2012, it is expected that global polycrystalline silicon capacity will be more than 300000 tons, more than half of them will be provided by the new distributors.