Output of Industrial Silicon and Polysilicon Fell MoM in October, Likely to Rebound in November

SHANGHAI, Nov 5 (SMM) – SMM data showed that China’s polysilicon output stood at 40,400 mt in October, down 3% month on month, but up 17% year on year.

The output fell on the month due to the power rationing in Jiangsu and Inner Mongolia. The production in Xinjiang, the largest silicon production area, was basically normal although the local plants received the production restriction notice.

Tongwei Sichuan commissioned a new capacity this week. Tongwei may put five newly built projects and technical transformation projects into production this year, which are expected to yield output in Q1 2022.

The national output of polysilicon is expected to rebound to around 42,000 mt in November.

SMM data showed that China’s industrial silicon output stood at 270,000 mt in October, down 1.5% month on month, but up 15.6% year on year.

The plants in Yunnan, Chongqing, and Inner Mongolia basically resumed the production from the power rationing. The operating rates in Gansu and Sichuan also rose after the maintenance. But Xinjiang reduced the production by over 10,000 mt due to the power rationing, leading to the slight decline in the total output.

Despite the power rationing, China’s monthly output of polysilicon stood at around 270,000 mt in September and October, which were little changed from that in August but lower than expected.

The national output of polysilicon is expected to increase to 290,000 mt in November, driven by the production recovery in Xinjiang and Fujian. The production in south-west China will be cut in the low-water period in December.