China Becomes World's Largest Industrial Silicon Producer and Consumer

---

Researched by Industrial Info Resources China (Sugar Land, Texas)--Following the rapid development in motor, solar photovoltaic power, building, electric and electronic industries, the silicon material industry of China has experienced a swift development. So far, China has become the largest industrial silicon producer and consumer in the world, according to Jiasheng Zhao, president of Silicon Branch and vice president of China Nonferrous Metal Industry Association (CNIA).

Silicon is an important fundamental material for the development of the new energy industry. Driven by the rapid development in motor, solar photovoltaic power, building, electric and electronic industries, the silicon market in China, from industrial silicon, organic silicon to polysilicon, has experienced strong growth since 2006.

According to the statistics of the CNIA Silicon Branch, from 2006 to 2012, the annual production capacity of industrial silicon in China jumped from 1.7 million metric tons to 2.75 million metric tons. Actual output was increased from 800,000 metric tons to 1.15 million metric tons; the production capacity of organic silicon jumped from 365,000 metric tons to 1.7 million metric tons. Actual output increased from 240,000 metric tons to 750,000 metric tons. The production capacity of polysilicon jumped from 800 metric tons to 77,000 metric tons, and the actual output increased from 500 metric to 435,000 metric tons.

"As the largest industrial silicon producer and consumer in the world, China's output and consumption of industrial silicon in 2010 accounted for 55% and 24% of the total in the world, respectively; that of organic silicon accounted for 25% and 34% of the total in the world, respectively; and that of polysilicon accounted for 25% and 50% of the global total, respectively," said Zhao.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. IIR's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.