Chinese manufacturers tighten up hold over polysilicon production rankings as expansions gather pace

• Both GCL Technology as well as Daqo New Energy have leapfrogged Wacker Chemie in Bernreuter Research's annual polysilicon top 10 rankings, completing a China-based leading three.

As well as Chinese polysilicon manufacturers look readied to occupy all 5 leading positions from following year, Bernreuter Research predicts, with Xinte Energy and East Hope both readied to climb above Wacker in 2023.

Tongwei, which today verified aspirations to take its annual polysilicon production from 350,000 MT in 2023 to as much as 1 million MT in 2026, cemented its lead at the top of the polysilicon rankings, while GCL technology rose to second spot.

Daqo, which has itself doubled down on expansion strategies after a year of bumper profits, took 3rd spot, knocking Wacker Chemie to fourth location.

Johannes Bernreuter, head of Bernreuter Research, stated Wacker is readied to take a similar course as former market leader Hemlock Semiconductor as well as focus more on electronic-grade polysilicon for use in the semiconductor industry.

Chinese polysilicon manufacturers currently hold more than 80% of solar-grade polysilicon production, a market share which is set to exceed 90% in the coming years as capacity expansions gather pace.

Nevertheless Bernreuter said the sector must take heed of the lessons offered from Russia's intrusion of Ukraine as well as overreliance on private markets for trade, arguing that it is "high time to develop non-Chinese solar supply chains".

" China has demonstrated what the ingredients of success are: reduced electrical energy rates for power-hungry polysilicon as well as ingot production, loan guarantees for exclusive investment, inexpensive equipment manufacturing and strategic foresight."