Kyocera makes a US$459 million polysilicon and US solar business downsizing impairment charge

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Kyocera noted in recently reporting fiscal 2018 full-year results that it’s Life & Environment Group reporting an operating loss of around US$482 million, due to a US$459 million impairment charge on long-term polysilicon supply contracts. Image: Kyocera Corp

Kyocera Corporation a multinational electronics and related components manufacturer has made a significant US$459 million impairment charge on long-term polysilicon supply contracts, as well as downsizing its solar operations in the US, which were the primary reason for its Life & Environment Group (solar PV included) reporting a large operating loss in fiscal 2018.

Kyocera noted in recently reporting fiscal 2018 full-year results that it’s Life & Environment Group reporting an operating loss of around US$482 million, due to a US$459 million impairment charge on long-term polysilicon supply contracts. Kyocera had changed the classification of its reporting segments from the year ended March 31, 2018.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

Not ready to commit yet?
  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Kyocera also reported a revenue decline in its Life & Environment Group, due to downsizing of its solar energy business in the United States and lower sales in its key solar energy market of Japan.

Life & Environment Group sales were around US$1.12 billion in FY 2018, down 24.8% from the previous year. 

Kyoera expects the Life & Environment Group sales to decline slightly in FY 2019, which was forecasted to be around US$1.01 billion, or a 1.1% decline. 

Struggling major China-based PV manufacturer, Yingli Green Energy has recently been forced into arbitration at the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) by a major polysilicon producer over a long-term ‘take or pay’ supply contract with damages claimed to be US$897.5 million. 

Former solar cell manufacturer such as German headquartered Q Cells AG went into bankruptcy in April, 2012, primarily over ‘take or pay’ polysilicon contracts.

More recently, SolarWorld AG had been ordered to pay US-based polysilicon producer, Hemlock Semiconductor damages amounting US$793 million plus costs and interest for not complying with a long-term take or pay contract in May, 2016. The company filed insolvency proceedings without reaching an agreement through mediation in May 2017.

7 October 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 7-8 October 2025 is our third PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The events in 2023 and 2024 were a sell out success and 2025 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.

Read Next

Premium
August 28, 2025
US solar companies could potentially pay “tens of billions” of dollars in retroactive duties on products imported from Southeast Asia between June 2022 and June 2024, following a decision from the US Court of International Trade (CIT).
August 27, 2025
Long-term procurement decisions from the US solar industry could support US solar manufacturing, regardless of changes to federal tax credits, PV Tech has heard.
Premium
August 27, 2025
American Clean Power Association’s MJ Shiao assesses the state of US PV manufacturing in the wake of recent policy developments.
August 26, 2025
Daqo New Energy has posted gross losses of US$81.4 million in Q2 2025, up from losses of US$81.5 million in Q1.
August 26, 2025
US-based solar module manufacturer Bila Solar will include US-made steel module frames in its 550W dual-glass products.
August 21, 2025
JA Solar's CTO, Zi Ouyang, discusses the company's latest module technologies and why the future is tandem.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines