Sharp Cut in Silicon Production May Drive up Polysilicon Prices

SHANGHAI, Sep 15 (SMM) – Development and Reform Commission announced on September 11 that the average Month output of local industrial silicon companies should not exceed 10% of the August output from September to December.

The raw materials for polysilicon production are trichlorosilane and hydrogen, which are put into the reduction furnace in a certain proportion to undergo thermal decomposition and reduction reactions to produce polysilicon rods.

Trichlorosilane is produced with hydrogen chloride and industrial silicon powder in the synthesis furnace. Industrial silicon lump is produced with quartz ore and carbon under the condition of electrification, and the lump will be pulverized into industrial silicon powder.

According to the regional distribution of China's industrial silicon production in the first three quarters of 2020, Yunnan's industrial silicon production accounted for 21% of the total output, ranking the second following Xinjiang.

The sharp reduction in industrial silicon production may significantly affect the prices of polysilicon.

From January to July 2021, China’s photovoltaic companies have announced a total of 222GW of silicon wafer expansion plans, with an investment of nearly 30 billion yuan, which will intensify the short supply of polysilicon.