Spot market prices for polysilicon have recently risen by over 20% to US$36-37 per kilogram from the level early this year, but silicon wafer makers will be little affected by the price hikes as they have inked long-term contracts with suppliers of the material, according to industry sources.

Silicon wafer makers including GlobalWafers, Formosa Sumco Technology and Wafer Works all noted that polysilicon prices set in the supply agreements will remain unchanged until they renew the contracts by the end of 2021 or in first-quarter 2021, despite short-term fluctuations in spot market prices, the sources said.

But international suppliers of polysilicon for silicon wafers are very likely to raise quotes in 2022, in turn prompting silicon wafer vendors to hike prices for diverse sizes of wafers to pass part of the cost increases onto foundry houses, the sources continued.

Meanwhile, China's suppliers of polysilicon needed for solar cells have sharply boosted their prices to US$30 per kilogram from less than US$10 seen in early 2021, despite the material's lower purity than for silicon wafer applications, the sources said, adding that the unusually sharp price rises may have resulted from market manipulations or stockpiling.

By: DocMemory
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