US polysilicon prices stable but demand remains stagnant
2010-02-24 08:43:57 【Print】
PITTSBURGH (Asian Metal) 24 Feb 10 – Spot prices of polysilicon remain unchanged in the US market as the slight uptick in trading at the beginning of the year has long subsided. 6N and 11N polysilicon is expected to continue within its current range for the short-term.
6N and 11N material hovers at USD47-52/kg and USD55-60/kg respectively. Prices have held around where they are now for the past three months, with the exception of 11N material which has fallen around USD10/kg during that time.
A large US-based distributor cited current 6N and 11N price levels at USD50/kg and USD60/kg, but complained of consistently weak domestic interest, especially on the spot market. The source had not booked any new spot sales in February, but maintains a long-term distribution of around 10t/m in Canada and the US.
“The long-term buyers are still out there, but there is a clear imbalance between oversupply and lack of buyers. More [polysilicon] producers like Hoku are coming online in the US, but consumers are few and far between,” the source said.
Hawaii-based polysilicon producer, Hoku, which opened a 2,500t/y polysilicon production facility in Idaho, is the latest company to add onto an already huge domestic supply glut.
A small US-based trader of around 1.5t/m of 6N and 11N material cited current prices at USD48-52/kg and USD55-60/kg respectively. According to the source, activity in the US market is still incredibly low due to the lack of financing, and short-term improvements are unlikely.
“There are still a lot of traders holding 25 or more tons in stock valued at USD100/kg or more; just waiting to release it,” the source explained. “I do not see any increases in price or demand until this material gets depleted or we see some real financing in the solar energy industry and demand picks up.”
6N and 11N material hovers at USD47-52/kg and USD55-60/kg respectively. Prices have held around where they are now for the past three months, with the exception of 11N material which has fallen around USD10/kg during that time.
A large US-based distributor cited current 6N and 11N price levels at USD50/kg and USD60/kg, but complained of consistently weak domestic interest, especially on the spot market. The source had not booked any new spot sales in February, but maintains a long-term distribution of around 10t/m in Canada and the US.
“The long-term buyers are still out there, but there is a clear imbalance between oversupply and lack of buyers. More [polysilicon] producers like Hoku are coming online in the US, but consumers are few and far between,” the source said.
Hawaii-based polysilicon producer, Hoku, which opened a 2,500t/y polysilicon production facility in Idaho, is the latest company to add onto an already huge domestic supply glut.
A small US-based trader of around 1.5t/m of 6N and 11N material cited current prices at USD48-52/kg and USD55-60/kg respectively. According to the source, activity in the US market is still incredibly low due to the lack of financing, and short-term improvements are unlikely.
“There are still a lot of traders holding 25 or more tons in stock valued at USD100/kg or more; just waiting to release it,” the source explained. “I do not see any increases in price or demand until this material gets depleted or we see some real financing in the solar energy industry and demand picks up.”
