Polysilicon imports steadily lower

According to the latest customs data, China’s imports of polysilicon in February 2015 were 7,558 tons, a decrease of 18.8% compared with the previous month, and the import volume was significantly reduced. In this regard, the nonferrous metals industry silicon branch analysis, said that the reduction in imports of polysilicon is mainly due to December 31 last year, the electronic accounting system of large import enterprises, the automatic closing of the processing trade, processing trade, import volume decreased. With the gradual completion of orders for processing trade manuals, total imports will show a steady decline. However, due to the "double reverse" loophole, the amount of polysilicon imported from the United States and South Korea still accounts for a significant proportion of total imports.

Import volume prices fell

According to customs data, China's imports of polysilicon were 7,558 tons in February this year, a decrease of 18.8% from the previous month. Among them, the import volume of general trade methods was 2811 tons, a decrease of 20.35% from the previous month and an increase of 104.7% year-on-year. The import of polysilicon by processing trade was 4,747 tons, which accounted for 62.8% of the total import volume of the month, which was a decrease of 7.7% from the total processing trade volume in 2014. Imports from Germany amounted to 1920 tons, a decrease of 15.02% from the previous period to approximately 581 tons. Imports from the United States amounted to 1,456 tons. Imports decreased by 13.49% to approximately 227 tons. Imports from the Republic of Korea were 3,286 tons, a decrease of 15.02%. About 581 tons; imports from Japan increased by 441% from the previous month, while imports from other regions all fell.

From the price point of view, the lowest polysilicon prices imported from Germany are 16.62 U.S. dollars per kilogram, 17.72 U.S. dollars per kilogram, 19 dollars per kilogram, 19.41 dollars per kilogram, 19.80 dollars per kilogram, and 19.91 dollars per kilogram, and the highest price is 46.75 U.S. dollars per kilogram. The amount of kilograms was 7,787 kilograms, and the weighted average price of customs transactions was 20 US dollars/kg, which was a drop of 13.04% from the previous month. The mainstream price of imported polysilicon from Germany was between US$19 and US$21.33/kg. The weighted average import price of polysilicon in February this year was US$19/kg, a decrease of 9.52% from January. In fact, since the fourth quarter of 2014, the price of polysilicon has been fluctuating. Currently, the price of polysilicon has dropped from 160 yuan/kg to 138 yuan/kg, a decrease of 13.75%. According to industry sources, the main reason for the price decline is the large number of imported polysilicon, which has impacted the domestic polysilicon supply market, which has led to an increase in the procurement selectivity of Chinese silicon wafer companies, a decrease in the utilization rate of domestic polysilicon enterprises, a decrease in prices, an increase in the cost of polysilicon companies, and profits. Lowering, creating a vicious cycle.

"Double" loopholes still exist

Although the total imports of polysilicon fell in February, it is not difficult to see from the analysis of customs data that polysilicon in South Korea, Germany, and the United States still occupies an absolute share of China’s total import volume, and still holds attention to China’s domestic polysilicon photovoltaic industry. Constitute a considerable impact. In February, the import data of the Customs countries showed that 6,662 tons of polysilicon were imported from South Korea, the United States, and Germany, accounting for 88.1% of the total imports. Among them, 3286 tons were imported from South Korea, accounting for 43.5% of total imports; 1456 tons were imported from the United States, accounting for 19.3% of total imports; 1920 tons were imported from Germany, accounting for 25.4% of total imports; The regional import volume was 896 tons, accounting for 11.9% of the total. Non-ferrous industry silicon branch analysis indicated that China currently imposes anti-dumping tax of 2.4% on OCI, the largest polysilicon manufacturer in South Korea, but this will not cause any impact on it. South Korea exports polysilicon to China both in terms of general trade methods and processing trade methods. No scruples. In February of this year, China imported 3,286 tons of polysilicon from South Korea, which accounted for 43.5% of the total import volume of the month. It still ranks first in import volume and far ahead of Germany, which ranks second. The United States is also one of the major countries exporting polysilicon to China. In February of this year, China imported 1,456 tons of polysilicon from the United States, a decrease of 13.5% compared with the previous period, but its import volume according to processing trade reached 1,341 tons, accounting for 92.1% of the total imports from the United States for the current month. The processing trade still dominates the market. Since the export of polysilicon in the form of processing trade can effectively circumvent China’s “double reverse” strategy, this is also one of the important reasons why the total import volume is difficult to effectively return to a reasonable range.

The non-ferrous industry silicon branch said that China’s “Document 58” that suspends processing trade approvals has shown good effects, and the total imports of polysilicon have been decreasing. However, South Korea’s low tax rate and the US’s large export volume through processing trade loopholes have already seriously impacted the domestic polysilicon photovoltaic industry. It is necessary to rationally adjust the tax rate for both of these and block the loopholes in processing trade imports to maintain the healthy and stable development of the domestic market. .