Hemlock
–
comprising
several
joint
venture
companies
owned
by
Dow
Corning,
Shin-Etsu
Handotai
and
Mitsubishi
Materials
–
says
it
has
seen
a
sharp
decline
in
orders
from
Chinese
PV
manufacturers
as
they
await
Beijing’s
decision
on
whether
to
impose
trade
duties
on
US-made
polysilicon.
“In
the
January
announcement,
Hemlock
Semiconductor
announced
that
‘should
market
conditions
persist,
these
layoffs
could
become
permanent,’”
says
a
spokesman.
“Unfortunately,
the
volatility
in
the
solar
polysilicon
industry
continues,
and
Hemlock
Semiconductor
does
not
have
additional
clarity
or
resolution
to
the
international
trade
disputes.
“As
a
result,
those
previously
laid
off
were
notified
that…
