China is considering restrictions on exports of polysilicon, wafer production technology
Beijing is considering export restrictions on solar wafers, black silicon and silicon casting equipment. The government has launched a public consultation on the proposed measures.
China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) announced they planned to revise the country's list of technologies banned and restricted for export.
In a joint statement, the two ministries said three technologies related to photovoltaic manufacturing could be included in the catalog - wafers, black silicon and ingots. If these three types of products are added to the restricted list, manufacturers will need to obtain a technology export license from the corresponding provincial authorities in order to export such products.
China accounted for more than 98 percent of the global solar industry's wafer production in 2021, according to a report by the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA). Although the plan is still in the public consultation phase, the attempt illustrates the country's efforts to protect its most advanced solar technology and keep its solar industry competitive.
The head of the agency said such technology-related export restrictions are not new. And the last version of the list was published in August 2020, but it took two years after the consultation process to come into effect.China's intentions are clear -- it plans to stay at the top of this value chain.
At the same time, this may not be surprising if you consider the massive investment in wafer research and development over the years. On the one hand, it affects factory manufacturers, but also those who might consider setting up wafer production elsewhere. In other words, the transfer of such technology abroad will also be subject to such restrictions.
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