[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] Seoul, October 1 – OCI Holdings announced that it will postpone its U.S. solar cell production investment project, citing business risks stemming from recent U.S. government policy changes in the solar industry.
The company disclosed:
“To respond to heightened risks and in consideration of business structure and investment efficiency, we have decided to temporarily defer the solar cell investment project. We will review the decision within a year or earlier if market conditions change.”
OCI Holdings had established a new U.S. subsidiary in March with plans to begin commercial production in Q1 2026. With the reassessment, the project timeline will be slowed.
Policy Impact: OBBBA and Market Slowdown
The deferral comes amid challenges from the OBBBA (One Big, Beautiful Bill Act) introduced under the Trump administration’s second term. Under the law, solar subsidies are limited to renewable energy projects that commence construction by July 4, 2026, or are completed by the end of 2027.
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) reported that U.S. solar installations in Q2 2025 reached 7.5 GW, a 24% year-on-year decline, underscoring weakening market conditions.
Global Value Chain Strategy
OCI Holdings has been working to establish a Malaysia–U.S. value chain. Its affiliate OCI Terrasols produces 35,000 tons of solar-grade polysilicon annually in Malaysia for global clients. The U.S. solar cell plant was intended to complement this supply chain while expanding into solar power generation projects.
Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
