China is the large producer and exporter of silicon carbide. Fueled by the demand from such downstream sectors as PV, LED, and ceramics, China's silicon carbide output substantially increased in 2010 to 1.05 million tons or so, up 96.3% YoY, approximating 70% of the global total. In 2011, the first export quota of silicon carbide released by the Ministry of Commerce People's Republic of China turned out to be 129.6 kilotons, equivalent to that in 2010. In Q1 2011, the real export volume of silicon carbide in China reached 53.6 kilotons, occupying 41.6% of the first export quota in 2011.

The output and sales of silicon carbides in 2010 varied with different applications. Pulled by the rapidly developed industries like PV, fine ceramics, and high-grade polishing, the output and sales of green silicon carbide was evidently superior to that of black silicon carbide. In H1 2010, the revenue of green silicon carbide in China presented an 88.8% YoY rise, while that of black silicon carbide grew 44.7% YoY.

Meanwhile, Henan Xindaxin Materials and Yicheng New Material that give priority to green silicon carbide for PV-based powder boasted obviously larger output and sales than other silicon carbide manufacturers. Henan Xindaxin Materials, the vital supplier of functional materials in solar PV industry, enjoyed approximately 26% shares in wafer cutting material market. It acquired the operating income of RMB1.21 billion in 2010, up 121.0% from a year earlier. The capacity of Henan Xindaxin Materials has been on the rise in recent years, and the cutting material capacity will hit 100 kilotons or so at the end of 2011.

As the largest manufacturer of PV-based silicon powder in China, Yicheng New Material obtained the revenue of RMB4.1 billion in 2010, up 46% YoY. In May 2011, the Phase I project of 100-kiloton crystalline silicon linear cutting fine powder was accomplished; after the completion of the project, the annual output of crystalline silicon linear cutting fine powder can be 200 kilotons.

Lanzhou Heqiao Resource attaches importance to the sales of primary processing products, and it has made poor and declining performance in operating income during the recent three years, in spite of the No.1 capacity of silicon carbide in China in 2010. In consequence, Lanzhou Heqiao Resource will emphasize the development of silicon carbide deep-processing products in the following several years.

Apart from the focus on the operation environment, current development, supply & demand, competition pattern, import & export, price trend, and development trend of China silicon carbide industry, this report also highlights the analysis on the supply & demand and price trend of silicon carbide upstream markets such as anthracite, petroleum coke, etc., current development of silicon carbide downstream sector, as well as the operation and development outlook of key Chinese enterprises.