Many China firms gearing up for poly-Si production, but few will enter into volume production 2009, say Taiwan makers

Staff reporter, Taipei; Adam Hwang, DIGITIMES [Tuesday 2 December 2008]

Due to fast growing demand for solar cells, there have been many newly established producers of polycrystalline silicon material (poly-Si) in China and the total number has reached about 50 currently, but no more than five of them will be capable of undertaking volume production in 2009, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

This is because poly-Si makers in China have been faced with a challenging situation, the sources indicated. It is increasingly difficult for them to raise funds for capacity expansion due to the global financial crisis, the sources pointed out. In addition, fast decreasing global demand for solar cells has caused continued drops in spot market pricing of poly-Si, which has led to high inventory levels, the sources noted.

China's solar energy industry has downwardly adjusted China's 2008 target output of poly-Si from 11,000 tons originally to 3,000 tons, the sources indicated.