International producers exhibited their upgraded metallurgical-grade (UMG) silicon of nearly 7N (99.99999%) in silicon purity with asking prices of about US$45/kg at the 2009 (24th) European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC) taking place in Hamburg, Germany, during September 21-25, according to Taiwan-based PV product makers attending the event.
Prices of 5-6N UMG silicon reached more than US$100/kg in 2008 when polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) was in serious short supply with quotes hiking to US$400-500/kg prior to the global financial tsunami, the sources said.
But prices of such UMG silicon have now dropped sharply to US$25-35/kg, as their low silicon purity can hardly match the quality of poly-Si, whose prices have also declined, the sources indicated.
International producers of UMG silicon, through improved manufacturing processes, have raised silicon purity to nearly 7N and recommend a 50:50 mix with poly-Si, the sources said. But market acceptability of such UMG silicon remains to be seen, the sources commented.
Article translated by Adam Hwang
