China takes 9 of Top 10 polysilicon manufacturer spots, expanding industry dominance

The most recent rankings of the the highest polysilicon producers on this planet present that 9 of the High 10 are primarily based in China.

GCL polysilicon plant in Leshan (Sichuan province), one in all GCL’s 4 manufacturing bases. Credit score: GCL Expertise

“The Chinese language polysilicon trade reached a share of 93.5% within the international output of 2024. This dominance can also be mirrored within the rating of the world’s largest producers,” stated Johannes Bernreuter, writer of the Polysilicon Market Outlook 2029 and head of Bernreuter Analysis.

Since 2022, the highest 4 positions within the rating have been occupied by the Chinese language quartet of Tongwei, GCL Expertise, Daqo New Power and Xinte Power, with no challenger in sight.

The highest 4 producers not solely achieved a mixed market share of 65% in 2024, they’re additionally chargeable for the lion’s share of overcapacity in China. Two-thirds of the brand new capability between 2020 and 2024 was constructed by Tongwei, GCL, Daqo and Xinte. “Due to this fact, it’s no marvel that the highest 4 additionally accrued two-thirds of the large inventories at Chinese language polysilicon producers by the tip of 2024,” Bernreuter stated.

Wacker is the one remaining non-Chinese language consultant among the many High 10. The Germany-based chemical compounds group, which was the world’s largest polysilicon producer from 2016 by means of 2019, fell from fifth place in 2022 again to eighth in 2024.

In view of the deliberate consolidation of the Chinese language polysilicon trade by means of an acquisition fund, Bernreuter Analysis sees an excellent likelihood that Wacker will stay within the High 10 rating a minimum of by means of 2027. Nevertheless, this prediction assumes that the PV market in america, the principle vacation spot of photo voltaic modules made from non-Chinese language polysilicon, recovers from anti-renewables laws from the Trump administration.

After the regulation of the European Union on pressured labor comes into impact in December 2027, Wacker may benefit from elevated European demand for photo voltaic modules made from non-Chinese language polysilicon.

Of the previously three non-Chinese language producers within the High 10, Hemlock Semiconductor (United States) and OCI (South Korea/Malaysia) dropped out of the rating in 2023 when the brink for the tenth largest producer rose to an annual output of 60,000 metric tons. In 2024 Hemlock landed at 14th place, and OCI at sixteenth.

Each producers have been surpassed by new Chinese language entrants, Qinghai Lihao and Hongyuan Power. Lihao already entered the rating within the second 12 months of its operation in 2023; because of a fast enlargement, it secured the fifth place in 2024. Hongyuan got here in ninth in 2024. With its full integration from polysilicon manufacturing by means of to photo voltaic module meeting, the corporate is a mini model of market chief Tongwei.

This newest rating from Bernreuter Analysis is predicated on precise polysilicon output in 2024. Listed numbers are manufacturing capability.

1. Tongwei (Sichuan, Internal Mongolia, Yunnan) – 910,000 MT
2. GCL (Jiangsu, Sichuan, Internal Mongolia) – 480,000 MT
3. Daqo (Xinjiang, Internal Mongolia) – 350,000 MT
4. Xinte Power (Xinjiang, Internal Mongolia) – 300,000 MT
5. Lihao Qingneng (Qinghai) – 130,000 MT
6. East Hope New Power (Xinjiang, Ningxia Hui) – 335,000 MT (output didn’t attain this stage)
7. Asia Silicon (Qinghai) – 100,000 MT
8. Wacker Chemie (Bavaria, Saxony – Germany; Tennessee – United States) – 80,000 MT
9. Hongyuan Power (Internal Mongolia) – 60,000 MT
10. Goens Power (Xinjiang) – 65,000 MT (output didn’t attain this stage, and Goens suspended manufacturing in fall 2025)