In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.
The Global Polysilicon Marker (GPM), the OPIS benchmark for polysilicon produced outside China, was assessed at $19.227/kg, or $0.040/W, unchanged from the previous week, according to the OPIS Global Solar Markets Report released on Aug. 4.
The findings of the U.S. Section 232 national security investigation into imports of polysilicon and its derivatives were announced Aug. 6. Starting Dec. 4, the United States will impose minimum import prices of $21/kg for polysilicon, $100/kg for ingots and wafers, $0.22/W for solar cells and $0.38/W for modules. Imported polysilicon derivatives will also be subject to a 15% ad valorem duty.
Ahead of the announcement, global polysilicon market fundamentals remained broadly stable, with market participants adopting a wait-and-see approach as they awaited the investigation’s outcome.
Trading sources generally reported stable prices and limited spot activity prior to the announcement. One trader estimated monthly non-China polysilicon production at around 8,000 metric tons (MT) based on prevailing operating rates, with only two producers running at full capacity.
