The silicon market is gradually entering a new round of contract signings this week, but overall transaction volume remains relatively stable, according to Solarbe. The majority of contracts are for n-type silicon or mixed packages, with standalone sales of p-type silicon being relatively scarce, leading to a slight upward trend in prices. Additionally, due to the price advantage of granular silicon, there is strong demand, tightening spot supply and causing a modest price increase.
| Material | Average Price (CNY/kg) | Average Price (USD/kg) | Weekly Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| N-type polysilicon | 41.3 | 5.83 | 0.73 |
| N-type granular silicon | 37.3 | 5.27 | 1.63 |
| Mono recharge | 36.4 | 5.14 | 0.83 |
| Mono dense | 34.5 | 4.87 | 0.58 |
| Mono popcorn | 31.4 | 4.43 | 0.64 |
Based on feedback from the market, 14 companies are still in maintenance or reduced production mode, with some smaller producers partially resuming operations, but major players’ restart schedules remain uncertain. China’s polysilicon supply in August fell to 129,700 tons, down 6.01% month-on-month, marking a yearly low. Despite recent price hikes, trading volume has been limited, with only a slight market price increase.
Looking ahead to September, some polysilicon suppliers plan to increase or resume production, and a leading company’s new capacity will gradually come online. As more companies resume operations, polysilicon production in September is expected to rise to 130,000-140,000 tons, potentially increasing market supply pressure. Solarbe believes that current inventory pressure in the silicon material segment is relatively low, and polysilicon companies are strongly inclined to maintain prices, suggesting a potential slight price increase in the short term.
This week, silicon wafer prices saw a slight increase. Notably, although leading wafer companies raised their prices last week, downstream cell manufacturers have yet to make significant purchases, so actual transaction prices remain to be further observed. In terms of supply, wafer production in August reached 52.6 GW, a month-on-month increase of 4.37%.
However, due to production cuts by two major specialized companies and some integrated enterprises in September, wafer output is expected to decrease to 45-46 GW, a reduction of about 14%. As inventory levels continue to decline, the supply-demand balance is improving, providing support for prices.
Solar cell prices also remained stable this week, with little room for a decrease due to current cost levels. Despite weak downstream demand, production continues to fall, with August output at 58 GW and September expected to drop to 52-53 GW. As upstream prices stabilize, the market may recover slightly.
