“S. Korea’s PV industry to resume growth”
Hanwha Chemical finished construction of a 10,000-ton-capacity polysilicon plant in Yeosu late last year and is scheduled to begin commercial production within the first half of this year. Another polysilicon producer Samsung Fine Chemicals is building 10,000-ton-capacity plant in Ulsan and will likely set foot in the market within this year. The nation’s photovoltaic (PV) industry has been turning around since late last year after being mired in the prolonged slump for over two years. Polysilicon prices climbed for six consecutive weeks after the second week of December to $20.71 per kg as of January 15, according to the PV industry market researcher PV Insight. It marks the first time for the prices to hover above $20 in 16 months since September 2012. The photovoltaic manufactures which use polysilicon products are also boosting their operating ratios. The nation’s ingot and wafer manufacturer Nexolon is running the entire production lines from late last year while cell manufacturer Hanwha Q.CELLS and module manufacturer Hanwha SolarOne also increased their operating ratios up to 90 percent. The photovoltaic industry’s return to the path of growth largely came as the demand has picked up speed in the US, China and Japan while expansion of new facilities shrank over the last two years. The global PV installations hit 35 gigawatt (GW) last year, but the number will likely grow to 42 and 50 GW at the maximum level this year.
Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved
Hanwha Chemical finished construction of a 10,000-ton-capacity polysilicon plant in Yeosu late last year and is scheduled to begin commercial production within the first half of this year. Another polysilicon producer Samsung Fine Chemicals is building 10,000-ton-capacity plant in Ulsan and will likely set foot in the market within this year. The nation’s photovoltaic (PV) industry has been turning around since late last year after being mired in the prolonged slump for over two years. Polysilicon prices climbed for six consecutive weeks after the second week of December to $20.71 per kg as of January 15, according to the PV industry market researcher PV Insight. It marks the first time for the prices to hover above $20 in 16 months since September 2012. The photovoltaic manufactures which use polysilicon products are also boosting their operating ratios. The nation’s ingot and wafer manufacturer Nexolon is running the entire production lines from late last year while cell manufacturer Hanwha Q.CELLS and module manufacturer Hanwha SolarOne also increased their operating ratios up to 90 percent. The photovoltaic industry’s return to the path of growth largely came as the demand has picked up speed in the US, China and Japan while expansion of new facilities shrank over the last two years. The global PV installations hit 35 gigawatt (GW) last year, but the number will likely grow to 42 and 50 GW at the maximum level this year.
Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved