Market Overview: The domestic DMC market is showing a weak and volatile pattern, with the average price in the Chinese market dropping to 13750 yuan/ton, a decrease of 50 yuan/ton from the previous trading day. The production side maintains a pricing resilience strategy, and in the afternoon, the market released a signal of capacity contraction. The plan is to implement a price increase of 500 yuan/ton from the next day. Driven by changes in supply side expectations, downstream inquiry density has significantly increased, and production companies have shifted their shipping strategies towards a more proactive approach. Local transaction prices have tilted towards the lower end, resulting in a significant improvement in overall order taking. Raw material side: The price of the main raw material metal silicon continues to fluctuate at a low level. Supply side: Production companies plan to continue reducing production. Demand side: Downstream inquiry atmosphere is heating up.
Wacker Chemie AG stated in its annual report that due to the continued weak market environment, the company's sales and profits in 2024 have decreased compared to the previous year. In 2024, Wacker's total sales amounted to 5.72 billion euros, a year-on-year decrease of 11% (2023: 6.4 billion euros). This change is mainly attributed to the price reduction and significant decrease in sales volume of the polysilicon business department. In contrast, despite facing resistance, the sales of the chemical department remained unchanged from the previous year. The sales of the biotechnology department increased year-on-year. In 2024, the group's sales decreased by 11% to 5.7 billion euros, and EBITDA decreased by 7% to 763 million euros as the Chemicals and Biotechnology division operated in a weak market environment; Semiconductor grade polycrystalline silicon performs positively, while solar grade polycrystalline silicon shows a downward trend. Net profit of 261 million euros in 2024 is proposed to distribute a dividend of 2.50 euros per share. Outlook for 2025: Group sales are expected to be between 6.1 billion and 6.4 billion euros, and EBITDA is expected to be between 700 million and 900 million euros