China imported 7,558 tons of solar-grade polysilicon in February 2015, decreasing on month by 18.8%. 4,746 tons or 62.8% was imported through export processing zones (EPZs), according to China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association.
South Korea was the largest source accounting for 43.5% of February import volume, followed by Germany with 25.4% and the US with 19.3%.
The China government in 2013 imposed anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs on polysilicon imported from Europe, the US and South Korea, but China-based importers import the material through EPZs to evade the tariffs. Consequently, the China government in September 2014 laid a temporary ban on imports of polysilicon through EPZs, with importers already obtaining via-EPZ import permits not subject to the ban.
In February, 92.1% and 65.2% of imports from the US and Germany respectively were through EPZs.
Along with the prohibition of imports through EPZs, first-tier China-based polysilicon makers have increased capacity utilization to full and second-tier ones nearly 60%. However, polysilicon quotes in the China market have dropped from CNY156,000 (US$25,471)/ton at the end of November 2014 to CNY132,000/ton currently.
