This paper briefly reviews the electronic grade polysilicon production capacity and market demand in the world as well as in China, It is estimated that in the year of 2000 and 2010 the polysilicon demand in China will be 736 t/a and 1 304 t/a, respectively.

In the recent years, the gross polysilicon production in China is only 80 t/a, so the construction of an electronic grade polysilicon plant in China with a 1 000 t/a production capacity should be resonable. However, referring the newest statistical data since 1997, the world polysilicon production capacity has being exceeded the market demand and the trend will continue in the near future. In order to occupy the domestic polysilicon market the future polysilicon plant will face challenge. The quality of the product and the manufacturing cost are the most important criteria to be considered. Ensuring the polysilicon product purity, the manufacturing cost should be near 20 dollars per kilogram for competition in domestic market.