Back to supply chains
Where does JA Solar source its components?
China. Supply chain mapped to 45 inputs across 6 countries.
Federal screeningFlagged
Yes. JA Solar is named on the DOD Section 1260H list -- a federal restricted-party designation that makes it a foreign entity of concern for IRA clean-energy tax credit purposes. Is JA Solar a Foreign Entity of Concern?
Upstream sourcing exposure
High84% weighted
1 federally designated - 37 in covered nations - 2 elevated, of 45 nodes.
Where inputs are mined and refined. Not a FEOC determination for the company -- see the federal list screening above.
Refining chokepoint
8 of 9 processing/refining steps in covered nations
Producer1
Component11
Processing / Refining9
Raw Material17
Mine / Extraction7
designated covered nation elevated no known factor not assessed
Loading chain view...
Sourcing Concentration by Country
Covered NationAllied NationOther
Sourcing risk across the graph
Where each input is mined or refined. Not a FEOC determination for the company.
1
Designated (2%)
36
Covered nation (80%)
2
Elevated (4%)
6
No known factor (13%)
Legend
Node Types
Producer
Supplier
Component
Processing / Refining
Raw Material
Mine / Extraction
Logistics
Sourcing risk
Federally designated - named on a restricted-party list
Covered nation - sited in China, Russia, Iran or North Korea
Elevated - documented concentration risk, no federal listing
No known risk factor - not a compliance clearance
Not assessed - no sourcing judgement was made
Relationships
Transformation - manufactures / assembles
Refining - midstream processing (FEOC chokepoint)
Supply handoff - supplies / sources from
Arrows point in the direction material flows (input to product).
Every mapped input in the JA Solar supply chain
45 nodes, grouped by supply-chain tier. Sourcing risk describes where an input is mined or refined; it is not a FEOC determination for JA Solar.
Producer (1)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| JA SolarNingjin, Hebei / Xingtai, China (HQ + module assembly) | China | Federally designated | Named on DOD 1260Has “JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd.” (2026-06-10 Federal Register (Doc. 2026-11571)). Chinese-domiciled vertically integrated PV module maker; controlled by Chinese entities, a Foreign Entity of Concern under OBBBA/IRA rules. |
Component (11)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar Cell (PERC/TOPCon)JA Solar cell fabs, China | China | Covered nation | Silicon photovoltaic cell; JA Solar cell production is China-based. Core light-to-electricity converting layer. |
| Monocrystalline Silicon WaferJA Solar wafer plants (25 GW), China | China | Covered nation | Sliced from mono ingot; China holds ~97% of global wafer capacity. |
| Mono Silicon IngotJA Solar ingot plants (21 GW), China | China | Covered nation | Czochralski-pulled single-crystal ingot; China holds ~98% of ingot capacity. |
| High-Purity Quartz CrucibleCrucible fabs (China/Japan) using imported HPQ | United States | No known risk factor | Czochralski crucible for ingot pulling; consumable. Requires hyper-pure quartz sand from a near-monopoly foreign source. |
| Silver Metallization PastePaste makers, China | China | Covered nation | Screen-printed busbars/fingers; ~30% of module BOM cost. Fired conductive Ag paste on cell. |
| PV Ribbon / Tabbing WireRibbon makers, China | China | Covered nation | Tin-coated copper interconnect soldered cell-to-cell; oxygen-free Cu >=99.97%, hot-dip tin/lead-free solder coat. |
| Solar Glass (low-iron tempered)Xinyi Solar / Flat Glass Group, China | China | Covered nation | 2.8 mm ultra-clear tempered front glass; China-based Xinyi & Flat Glass lead global PV glass output. |
| Encapsulant Film (EVA/POE/EPE)Film extruders, China | China | Covered nation | Laminates cells between glass and backsheet; EPE = coextruded EVA+POE for PID resistance. |
| Backsheet (fluoropolymer/CPC)Backsheet laminators, China | China | Covered nation | Rear protective layer; PVDF/PVF outer + PET core, or coated CPC structure. |
| Aluminum Frame (anodized)Extrusion/anodizing, China | China | Covered nation | 40 mm anodized 6xxx-series extruded frame; China makes ~80% of solar frames. Some Vietnam diversification. |
| Junction Box (IP68)J-box makers, China | China | Covered nation | IP68 box with 3 bypass diodes + MC4 connectors; China-based (RISIN, Hengda, etc.). |
Processing and refining (9)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polysilicon Refiner (Siemens process)Xinte Energy, Xinjiang; Daqo, Xinjiang/Inner Mongolia | China | Covered nation | Trichlorosilane/Siemens purification of MGS to 9N polysilicon. This midstream refining step is the FEOC chokepoint; Xinjiang cheap coal power. |
| Silicon Metal Smelter (arc furnace)Submerged arc furnaces, Yunnan/Xinjiang, China | China | Covered nation | Reduces quartz + carbon (coal/charcoal) at ~1800C to silicon metal. China dominates this refining tier. |
| HPQ Beneficiation PlantSibelco (Unimin) & The Quartz Corp, Spruce Pine, NC | United States | No known risk factor | Flotation/acid-leach purification of pegmatite to IOTA HPQ. Allied-controlled chokepoint (US/Belgium/Norway). |
| Silver RefineryChina (e.g. Yunnan Copper byproduct refining) | China | Covered nation | Electrorefining of silver to 4N powder for paste. China midstream refining = FEOC flag even on allied-mined ore. |
| Copper Smelter / RefineryChina (electrolytic Cu cathode) | China | Covered nation | Smelting + electrolytic refining to 4N cathode. China dominates copper refining midstream = FEOC chokepoint. |
| Tin Smelter / RefineryChina (Yunnan Tin) & Indonesia | China | Covered nation | Smelting of cassiterite to refined tin. China + Indonesia dominate; Chinese refining flags it. |
| Petrochemical Cracker / PolymerizationChina (Wanhua Chemical POE plant) | China | Covered nation | Ethylene polymerization to EVA/POE resin. Chinese petrochemical processing = flagged midstream. |
| Aluminum Smelter (Hall-Héroult)China (coal-powered pot lines) | China | Covered nation | Electrolytic reduction of alumina to primary aluminum. China ~55-60% of world smelting = FEOC chokepoint. |
| Alumina Refinery (Bayer process)China (Shandong, Shanxi) + Guangxi bauxite | China | Covered nation | Bayer digestion of bauxite to alumina. China refines majority of alumina it consumes. |
Raw material (17)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polysilicon (mono-grade)Xinjiang / Inner Mongolia, China | China | Covered nation | JA Solar sources under long-term deals from Xinte Energy (Xinjiang) and Daqo; China ~72%+ of global polysilicon. Xinjiang UFLPA forced-labor exposure. |
| Metallurgical-Grade Silicon (MGS)China (Yunnan, Sichuan, Xinjiang smelters) | China | Covered nation | >=98% Si; China produces ~70% of global MGS. Carbothermic reduction of quartz with carbon. |
| Metallurgical Quartz / Silica RockChina + imports | China | Covered nation | High-grade quartz ore feedstock for silicon smelting; sourced from Chinese and imported deposits. |
| Carbon Reductant (coal/charcoal/coke)China (Xinjiang coal) | China | Covered nation | Reducing agent in silicon smelting; Xinjiang coal underpins low-cost Chinese silicon and polysilicon. |
| Hyper High-Purity Quartz Sand (HPQ)Spruce Pine, North Carolina, USA | United States | No known risk factor | IOTA-grade 99.998% SiO2; 70-90% of world supply from Spruce Pine. Refined/beneficiated by Sibelco and The Quartz Corp. |
| Refined SilverChina refiners (mine feed global) | China | Covered nation | Silver powder/flake for paste. China refines large share; Chinese silver inventories at record lows straining PV supply. |
| Oxygen-Free CopperChina copper smelters/refineries | China | Covered nation | Cathode copper drawn to ribbon. China refines ~40%+ of world copper cathode. |
| Refined Tin (solder coat)China / Indonesia refiners | China | Covered nation | Tin (with Ag/Pb) hot-dip coating on ribbon for solderability and corrosion resistance. |
| Ultra-Low-Iron Silica SandChina quarries | China | Covered nation | Fe2O3 <150 ppm; ~0.71 t per t of PV glass. Single most critical glass raw material. |
| Soda Ash / Limestone / DolomiteChina | China | Covered nation | Fluxes and stabilizers in glass batch (soda ash, limestone, dolomite, feldspar), China-sourced. |
| EVA / POE ResinChina petrochemical (Wanhua POE; Sveck/Lianhong EVA) | China | Covered nation | PV-grade EVA/POE resin; few makers can produce PV-grade. Ethylene-derived polymer. |
| Naphtha / Ethylene FeedstockChina refineries / imported crude | China | Covered nation | Petroleum feedstock cracked to ethylene; crude sourced globally, processed in China. |
| PET Film + PVDF/PVF FluoropolymerChina polymer plants | China | Covered nation | Polyester core film + fluoropolymer weathering layers; increasingly China-produced. |
| Aluminum Billet (6063 alloy)China smelters/casthouses | China | Covered nation | Extrusion billet with Mg/Si additions; China dominates primary aluminum + extrusion. |
| Alumina (refined)China Bayer refineries | China | Covered nation | Al2O3 from bauxite via Bayer process; smelter feed. |
| Bypass DiodesChina semiconductor packaging | China | Covered nation | Schottky bypass diodes protecting against hot-spot/shading; China-assembled. |
| PPO Thermoplastic + Tin-Plated Copper (MC4)China | China | Covered nation | PPO engineering plastic housing + tin-plated copper contacts for MC4 connectors. |
Mine and extraction (7)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quartz / Silica MineQuartz quarries, China (and some imports) | China | Covered nation | Extraction of silica ore; mining geography mixed. Refining downstream in China drives flag risk. |
| Spruce Pine Pegmatite MineMitchell & Avery Counties, North Carolina | United States | No known risk factor | Source of world's highest-purity quartz. Operated by Sibelco and Imerys/Norsk Mineral JV. |
| Silver / Polymetallic MineMexico, Peru, China (mixed) | Mexico | No known risk factor | Silver largely mined as byproduct of lead/zinc/copper in Mexico, Peru, China. Ore geography allied-heavy but refined in China. |
| Copper MineChile, Peru, DRC, China (mixed) | Chile | No known risk factor | Copper concentrate mined largely in Chile/Peru; much shipped to China for refining. |
| Tin (Cassiterite) MineMyanmar, Indonesia, China, DRC | Myanmar | Elevated sourcing risk | Cassiterite mined in Myanmar/Indonesia/China/DRC; conflict-mineral exposure. Refined largely in China. |
| Low-Iron Silica Sand MineChina (Anhui and others) | China | Covered nation | Extraction + beneficiation of low-iron quartz sand for float/patterned glass, China-based. |
| Bauxite MineGuinea, Australia, Guangxi (China) | Guinea | Elevated sourcing risk | Bauxite ore mined in Guinea/Australia and China's Guangxi; refined largely in China. |
Material flow (44 relationships)
- JA Solar assembles Solar Cell (PERC/TOPCon) (Solar cell)
- JA Solar assembles Solar Glass (low-iron tempered) (Front glass)
- JA Solar assembles Encapsulant Film (EVA/POE/EPE) (Encapsulant film)
- JA Solar assembles Backsheet (fluoropolymer/CPC) (Backsheet)
- JA Solar assembles Aluminum Frame (anodized) (Aluminum frame)
- JA Solar assembles PV Ribbon / Tabbing Wire (PV ribbon)
- JA Solar assembles Junction Box (IP68) (Junction box)
- Solar Cell (PERC/TOPCon) manufactures Monocrystalline Silicon Wafer (Silicon wafer)
- Solar Cell (PERC/TOPCon) supplies Silver Metallization Paste (Metallization paste)
- Monocrystalline Silicon Wafer manufactures Mono Silicon Ingot (Mono ingot)
- Mono Silicon Ingot manufactures Polysilicon (mono-grade) (Polysilicon)
- Mono Silicon Ingot supplies High-Purity Quartz Crucible (Quartz crucible)
- Polysilicon (mono-grade) refines Polysilicon Refiner (Siemens process) (Polysilicon)
- Polysilicon Refiner (Siemens process) refines Metallurgical-Grade Silicon (MGS) (Metallurgical-grade silicon)
- Metallurgical-Grade Silicon (MGS) refines Silicon Metal Smelter (arc furnace) (Silicon metal)
- Silicon Metal Smelter (arc furnace) refines Metallurgical Quartz / Silica Rock (Quartz feedstock)
- Silicon Metal Smelter (arc furnace) sources from Carbon Reductant (coal/charcoal/coke) (Carbon reductant)
- Metallurgical Quartz / Silica Rock sources from Quartz / Silica Mine (Silica ore)
- High-Purity Quartz Crucible sources from Hyper High-Purity Quartz Sand (HPQ) (HPQ sand)
- Hyper High-Purity Quartz Sand (HPQ) refines HPQ Beneficiation Plant (IOTA HPQ)
- HPQ Beneficiation Plant sources from Spruce Pine Pegmatite Mine (Pegmatite ore)
- Silver Metallization Paste sources from Refined Silver (Refined silver)
- Refined Silver refines Silver Refinery (Silver powder)
- Silver Refinery sources from Silver / Polymetallic Mine (Silver ore)
- PV Ribbon / Tabbing Wire sources from Oxygen-Free Copper (Oxygen-free copper)
- PV Ribbon / Tabbing Wire sources from Refined Tin (solder coat) (Tin solder coat)
- Oxygen-Free Copper refines Copper Smelter / Refinery (Copper cathode)
- Copper Smelter / Refinery sources from Copper Mine (Copper concentrate)
- Refined Tin (solder coat) refines Tin Smelter / Refinery (Refined tin)
- Tin Smelter / Refinery sources from Tin (Cassiterite) Mine (Cassiterite)
- Solar Glass (low-iron tempered) sources from Ultra-Low-Iron Silica Sand (Low-iron silica sand)
- Solar Glass (low-iron tempered) sources from Soda Ash / Limestone / Dolomite (Soda ash / flux)
- Ultra-Low-Iron Silica Sand sources from Low-Iron Silica Sand Mine (Silica sand ore)
- Encapsulant Film (EVA/POE/EPE) sources from EVA / POE Resin (EVA/POE resin)
- EVA / POE Resin refines Petrochemical Cracker / Polymerization (Polymer resin)
- Petrochemical Cracker / Polymerization sources from Naphtha / Ethylene Feedstock (Ethylene feedstock)
- Backsheet (fluoropolymer/CPC) sources from PET Film + PVDF/PVF Fluoropolymer (PET + fluoropolymer)
- Aluminum Frame (anodized) sources from Aluminum Billet (6063 alloy) (Aluminum billet)
- Aluminum Billet (6063 alloy) refines Aluminum Smelter (Hall-Héroult) (Primary aluminum)
- Aluminum Smelter (Hall-Héroult) refines Alumina (refined) (Alumina)
- Alumina (refined) refines Alumina Refinery (Bayer process) (Alumina)
- Alumina Refinery (Bayer process) sources from Bauxite Mine (Bauxite ore)
- Junction Box (IP68) sources from Bypass Diodes (Bypass diodes)
- Junction Box (IP68) sources from PPO Thermoplastic + Tin-Plated Copper (MC4) (PPO + tin-plated Cu)
Sources and methodology
Research-based supply-chain map compiled from public sources - not an audited bill of materials. Tiers reflect the standard industry structure for this product. Sourcing risk on a node describes where that input is typically mined or refined; it is not a FEOC determination for JA Solar, and it is not a screening result for the node itself unless a federal listing is cited against it. Verify against primary documentation before making a compliance determination.
Primary sources (1) - government, filings, standards bodies
Secondary sources (30) - trade press, analysts, reference works
- cleanenergyreviews.info cleanenergyreviews.info/blog/solar-panel-components-construction
- energysage.com energysage.com/solar/what-are-solar-panels-made-of-list-of-solar-pv-materials/
- jasolar.com jasolar.com/html/en/
- responsiblesourcingtool.org responsiblesourcingtool.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025-Polysilicon-Commodity-Report-Final.pdf
- minespider.com minespider.com/blog/know-the-source-the-polysilicon-supply-chain
- cen.acs.org cen.acs.org/energy/solar-power/US-solar-polysilicon-supply-problem/100/i33
- itif.org itif.org/publications/2025/09/08/china-plans-to-dominate-a-key-semiconductor-material/
- bernreuter.com bernreuter.com/newsroom/polysilicon-news/article/xinte-supplies-97-200-tons-of-polysilicon-to-ja-solar-for-5-years/
- prnewswire.com prnewswire.com/news-releases/daqo-new-energy-announces-long-term-high-purity-polysilicon-supply-agreements-with-ja-solar-301289466.html
- solarbuildermag.com solarbuildermag.com/news/four-chinese-solar-wafer-ingot-makers-banned-from-u-s-added-to-uflpa-entity-list/
- gbidirect.com gbidirect.com/insights/china-solar-exports-silver-demand-2026/
- mercomindia.com mercomindia.com/chinas-record-low-silver-inventory-raises-global-solar-supply-chain-risk
- targray.com targray.com/solar/conductive-paste/silver-paste
- targray.com targray.com/solar/pv-ribbon
- ulbrich.com ulbrich.com/products/pv-ribbon-wire/tabbing-wire/
- xinyisolar.com xinyisolar.com/en/SolarPvGlass/index.aspx
- pubs.rsc.org pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2025/se/d4se01567c
- xinhaimining.com xinhaimining.com/newo/low-iron-quartz-sand-processing-flow-for-photovoltaic-glass.html
- jwell-group.com jwell-group.com/blog/EVAPOE-Whole-Industry-Chain-Analysis/
- heavengreenenergy.com heavengreenenergy.com/glossary/fluoropolymer-backsheet
- sinovoltaics.com sinovoltaics.com/learning-center/materials/ethylene-vinyl-acetate-eva-film-composition-and-application/
- sinoextrud.com sinoextrud.com/lp/aluminum-solar-panel-frame/
- chalcoaluminum.com chalcoaluminum.com/application/solar-energy-aluminum/
- kimsenglobal.com kimsenglobal.com/solar-aluminum-manufacturing-trends-shaping-2025/
- app.dealroom.co app.dealroom.co/news/note/spruce-pine-quartz-the-critical-upstream-dependency-for-silicon-wafer-manufacturing
- sibelco.com sibelco.com/en/materials/high-purity-quartz
- construction-physics.com construction-physics.com/p/does-all-semiconductor-manufacturing
- chytdcmcb.com chytdcmcb.com/mc4-solar-connectors.html
- risinenergy.com risinenergy.com/mc4-solar-diode-connector-for-solar-panel-connection-product/
- linkwellelectrics.com linkwellelectrics.com/solar-junction-box-manufacturers/
Common questions
- Where does JA Solar source the inputs in this product?
- This map traces 45 inputs across 6 countries, including 16 mines and refiners. It is compiled from public sources and is not an audited bill of materials.
- How much of the JA Solar supply chain sits in a covered nation?
- 37 of 45 mapped inputs are sited in a covered nation (China, Russia, Iran or North Korea) or named on a federal restricted-party list. A further 2 carry elevated sourcing risk without either basis.
- Is JA Solar itself a Foreign Entity of Concern?
- Yes. JA Solar is named on the DOD Section 1260H list -- a federal restricted-party designation that makes it a foreign entity of concern for IRA clean-energy tax credit purposes. Sourcing risk in this map describes where inputs are mined and refined and is a separate question from the company's own federal screening.