Wacker Chemie’s polysilicon division quarterly sales continue to drop in Q4 2023

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
High energy prices in Germany negatively impacts the company’s polysilicon business. Image: Wacker Chemie

German chemical group Wacker Chemie has posted the financial results for 2023 with its polysilicon business falling by 61% due production-related reasons.

According to its preliminary figures for FY 2023, the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) company’s polysilicon dropped by 61% to €321 million (US$347.4 million) from €826 million in 2022 due to lower volumes and prices for solar-grade polysilicon. High energy prices in Germany also had a negative impact on the company’s polysilicon business.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • 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

The polysilicon division sales in 2023 also fell by 30% year-over-year to about €1.6 billion from €2.29 billion in 2022.

In addition to its polysilicon business, Wacker Chemie’s year-over-year sales and earnings also declined significantly last year. The group’s preliminary EBITDA dropped to €824 million in 2023, down from €2.08 billion or by about 60% due to lower prices of products, high energy costs and reduced plant-utilisation rates stemming from declined sales volumes.

In total, the group’s sales totalled around €6.40 billion last year, 22% lower than that of 2022 (€8.21 billion). Aside from lower prices and volumes, negative exchange-rate effects also impacted the development of sales.

“Price pressure was high, and the recovery in customer demand that was hoped for at the beginning of the year did not materialise. Persistently high energy prices in Germany further impacted our business. As a result, we could not post sales and earnings similar to the record figures we achieved in 2022,” said Christian Hartel, president and CEO of Wacker Chemie.

Hartel added that a recovery in demand is “not in view” now.

Speaking of the future of the company, Hartel said: “As great as the current challenges may be, we will continue to benefit from global megatrends in the medium and long term. Digitalisation, renewable energies, electromobility, and energy conservation are among the key drivers of our business.”

Read Next

August 8, 2025
US solar tracker manufacturer Array Technologies has posted revenue of US$362.2 million in the second quarter of this year.
August 8, 2025
SolarEdge posted inverter shipments of 1.19GW in the second quarter of this year, alongside BESS sales of 247MWh.
August 7, 2025
US residential solar installer Sunrun says it has positioned itself to continue generating strong financial returns after the passing of the 'One Big, Beautiful Bill'.
August 6, 2025
US tracker manufacturer FTC Solar has posted US$19.9 million in revenue in the second quarter of 2025, up year-on-year for the second quarter in a row.
August 5, 2025
China’s leading polysilicon firms are reportedly considering shutting down one third of the country’s polysilicon capacity and restructuring the sector, following years of overcapacity and tumbling prices.
August 4, 2025
Brookfield Renewable earned more than US$400 million in FFO at its renewable generation assets in the second quarter of 2025.

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