**Abstract**
According to the latest customs data, China's polysilicon imports in April 2013 reached 7,265 tons, representing a 12.93% increase compared to March and a 17.46% rise year-on-year. In terms of import prices, the average price of polysilicon dropped to $18.01 per kilogram in April, following a sharp increase in March. This marked a decrease of 7.12% from the previous month and a significant drop of 34.5% compared to the same period last year. The price was also 29% lower than the 2012 average, indicating a continued downward trend despite a short-lived price rebound earlier in the year.
South Korea, the United States, and Germany remained the top three suppliers, collectively accounting for 84.35% of total imports. South Korea contributed 2,139 tons (29.4%), the U.S. brought in 1,939 tons (26.7%), and Germany supplied 2,049 tons (28.2%). Imports from other regions totaled 1,137 tons (15.6%). While South Korean imports slightly declined in April, those from the U.S. and Germany saw growth, with South Korea still maintaining the largest share.
Looking at export prices from the three main countries, South Korea’s price stood at $19.75/kg, the U.S. at $13.10/kg, and Germany at $20.95/kg. All three experienced a decline compared to March, with the U.S. maintaining the lowest unit price among the three. The U.S. import price in April was the second lowest since 2013, down 27.3% from the average and 42.3% lower than the same period in 2012. This continued downward pressure on prices has had a severe impact on the domestic polysilicon industry, which remains in a difficult position.
A key concern in the industry is the persistent low import prices, which suggest aggressive dumping by foreign producers. This has created intense competition for local manufacturers, who are struggling to maintain profitability. Additionally, the ongoing "double anti-dumping" investigation faces challenges as various forms of circumvention emerge. Some companies are using processing trade to avoid tariffs, exploiting customs and bonded policies to bypass the "double anti-dumping" measures. This undermines the effectiveness of the regulations and allows more cheap imports to enter the market.
In April, 63% of polysilicon imports came through processing trade, compared to 37% via general trade. This shift highlights the growing reliance on this method, which will likely weaken the impact of future "double anti-dumping" actions. To address these issues, it is essential for Chinese companies to strengthen their core competitiveness, accelerate the investigation into imports from the U.S., South Korea, and the EU, and close any loopholes in the current system. Import agents must also be strictly monitored, and irregular practices should be tackled head-on.
Country-specific data reveals further insights:
- **South Korea**: Imports decreased slightly to 2,139 tons in April, down 2.1% from March. The unit price fell to $19.75/kg, a 0.7% monthly decline. This marked the first drop in import prices from South Korea since 2013.
- **United States**: Imports rose sharply to 1,939 tons, an increase of 37.5% from March. The unit price dropped to $13.10/kg, a 1.8% monthly decrease.
- **Germany**: Imports increased to 2,049 tons, up 14.5% from the previous month. The unit price fell to $20.95/kg, a 9.5% drop from March.
China's polysilicon exports in April were only 116 tons, a steep 82.3% decline from the previous month. This shows that the domestic market is not only facing strong foreign competition but also a shrinking export sector. With continued pressure from low-priced imports, the outlook for the industry remains uncertain unless decisive action is taken to protect domestic producers.
Wuxi Winsun Automation Instrument Co., Ltd , https://www.winsunwx.com