- Tariffs on imported solar grade polysilicon from the United States and South Korea will be extended for five years from January 14, 2026.
- Duties range up to 57 percent for US suppliers and up to 113.8 percent for South Korean producers.
- Decision reinforces China’s protection of its domestic polysilicon industry amid ongoing global solar trade tensions.
China’s Ministry of Commerce has confirmed the extension of antidumping duties on solar grade polysilicon imports from the United States and South Korea, following the conclusion of a sunset review initiated earlier this year. The renewed measures will come into effect on January 14, 2026, and will remain in place for a further five year period.
The ruling applies to rod shaped, block shaped and granular polycrystalline silicon products produced using chlorosilane as a raw material. It also covers key manufacturing routes such as the Siemens and silane processes used in the production of crystalline silicon for solar photovoltaic cells.
Under the renewed framework, US manufacturers will continue to face antidumping duties ranging between 53.3 percent and 57 percent. Companies named include REC Solar Grade Silicon, REC Advanced Silicon Materials, Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation, MEMC Pasadena and AE Polysilicon Corporation, among others.
For South Korean producers, the effective antidumping duty rates vary more widely, ranging from 4.4 percent to as high as 113.8 percent. Affected companies include OCI Co Ltd, Korea Silicon Co Ltd of Hankook Silicon, Hanwha Seishin of Hanwha Solutions, SMP, Woongjin Polysilicon, KCC Corp, Korean Advanced Materials and Innovation Silicon.
In a separate announcement, the ministry also confirmed the continuation of countervailing duties on US solar grade polysilicon imports for another five years from January 14, 2026. These duties remain unchanged from their original introduction in 2014, with rates between zero and 2.1 percent.
China first imposed antidumping duties on solar grade polysilicon imports from the US and South Korea in January 2014, citing material injury to its domestic industry. The measures were initially set for five years and were subsequently extended in 2020. The latest review was launched in January 2025 following applications from Chinese polysilicon producers, with authorities concluding that removing the duties would likely lead to continued dumping and renewed harm to local manufacturers.
The decision comes against the backdrop of escalating trade measures affecting the global solar supply chain. The United States has recently imposed antidumping and countervailing duties on Chinese solar products shipped via Southeast Asian countries, while additional tariffs apply under Section 201 and Section 301. Chinese solar manufacturing equipment remains exempt from Section 301 measures until November 10, 2026.
For African energy developers and solar project stakeholders, the extension of China’s trade measures underscores ongoing volatility in global solar material pricing and supply, with potential downstream implications for module costs and procurement strategies across emerging markets.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
