Back to supply chains

Where does Maxeon Solar Technologies source its components?

Singapore. Supply chain mapped to 36 inputs across 11 countries.

Federal screeningUnder Review

Uncertain. Maxeon Solar Technologies is not named on any of the 3 federal restricted-party lists screened for this record (DOD Section 1260H, BIS Entity List, OFAC SDN List), but its FEOC status is unresolved and depends on ownership or component-level analysis. Is Maxeon Solar Technologies a Foreign Entity of Concern?

Upstream sourcing exposure

High58% weighted

17 in covered nations - 8 elevated, of 36 nodes.

Where inputs are mined and refined. Not a FEOC determination for the company -- see the federal list screening above.

Refining chokepoint

5 of 10 processing/refining steps in covered nations

Where the exposure sits - by supply-chain tier
Producer1
Component12
Processing / Refining10
Raw Material6
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.

0
Designated (0%)
17
Covered nation (47%)
8
Elevated (22%)
11
No known factor (31%)

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 Maxeon Solar Technologies supply chain

36 nodes, grouped by supply-chain tier. Sourcing risk describes where an input is mined or refined; it is not a FEOC determination for Maxeon Solar Technologies.

Producer (1)

InputOriginSourcing riskBasis
Maxeon Solar TechnologiesHQ Singapore; IBC cell fabs in Philippines & Malaysia; module assembly in Mexico & FranceSingaporeElevated sourcing riskIBC/back-contact solar modules. Polysilicon explicitly non-China (Germany/Korea/US closed list), but downstream metals (Al frame, Cu, Ag, glass, encapsulant) run through China-dominated midstream -> overall review.

Component (12)

InputOriginSourcing riskBasis
IBC Solar Cell (crystalline silicon)Maxeon 3 cell fab, Philippines (~560MW); also MalaysiaPhilippinesNo known risk factorInterdigitated back-contact cell built on a patented copper foundation; wafers made exclusively from non-China polysilicon.
Module Lamination & AssemblyMexicali/Mexico module plants; FranceMexicoElevated sourcing riskCells laminated between glass/encapsulant, framed, and junction-boxed into finished panels.
Monocrystalline Silicon WaferThird-party ingot/wafer partners (TZS and others outside China)MalaysiaElevated sourcing riskMaxeon does not ingot/wafer itself; specifies non-China polysilicon feedstock. Wafering partners partly in Asia -> review.
High-Purity Quartz CrucibleConsumable for CZ ingot pullingUnited StatesNo known risk factorFused-quartz crucible for Czochralski ingot growth; ~70-90% of world HPQ from Spruce Pine, NC.
Copper Foundation / Plated Cu ContactsElectroplated onto rear of IBC cellPhilippinesElevated sourcing riskMaxeon's signature thick plated-copper metallization replaces silver ribbons. Copper metal midstream is China-heavy.
Silver Metallization PasteRear-contact paste (reduced vs standard cells due to Cu plating)ChinaCovered nationSilver paste for screen-printed contacts; paste conversion and silver refining concentrated in China.
Anodized Aluminum FrameExtruded/anodized Al profileChinaCovered nationRigid module frame; aluminum extrusion and smelting China-dominated.
Low-iron Tempered Solar GlassRolled 3.2mm patterned coverglassChinaCovered nationChina ~74% of solar-glass volume (Xinyi, Flat Glass Group, CSG) -> flagged.
EVA / POE Encapsulant FilmExtruded encapsulant filmChinaCovered nationHangzhou First >50% share; encapsulant film supply China-dominated -> flagged.
Polymer Backsheet (fluoropolymer)Fluoropolymer-coated backsheetChinaCovered nationJolywood and other China producers lead fluoropolymer backsheets -> flagged.
Junction Box + Bypass DiodesRear-mounted J-box with diodes/connectorsChinaCovered nationJ-box and connector supply concentrated in China -> flagged.
Tin-coated Copper Solder RibbonCopper ribbon with Sn(:Pb) solder coatingChinaCovered nationInterconnect ribbon; tin solder refining China-concentrated.

Processing and refining (10)

InputOriginSourcing riskBasis
Polysilicon Refiner - Hemlock SemiconductorHemlock, Michigan, USAUnited StatesNo known risk factorUS Siemens-process polysilicon; qualified on Maxeon closed list.
Polysilicon Refiner - WackerBurghausen/Nunchritz, Germany (also Charleston TN)GermanyNo known risk factorGerman polysilicon; allied, non-China.
Polysilicon Refiner - OCIOCI, South Korea (and Malaysia expansion)South KoreaNo known risk factorKorean polysilicon; allied-refined, non-China.
Silicon Metal Smelter (allied)Carbothermic arc furnaces, US/Norway/alliedUnited StatesNo known risk factorQuartz + carbon reduced to ~99% silicon metal. Maxeon uses non-China smelters to keep the whole chain clean.
HPQ Processor - Sibelco / The Quartz CorpSibelco IOTA & The Quartz Corp, Spruce Pine, North CarolinaUnited StatesNo known risk factorNear-monopoly on 4N8+ high-purity quartz; allied (Belgium/Norway ownership, US mine).
Copper Smelter / ElectrorefineryChinese copper smelters/electrorefineriesChinaCovered nationChina dominates copper cathode refining; FEOC midstream chokepoint.
Silver Smelter/RefineryByproduct silver refining from base-metal smeltersChinaCovered nationSilver refining tied to base-metal smelters, China-concentrated midstream.
Alumina Refinery + Al SmelterBauxite->alumina (Bayer) then electrolytic smeltingChinaCovered nationChina ~54% of alumina and dominant Al smelting; energy-intensive midstream chokepoint.
Solar Glass Float/Roll LineChinese solar-glass furnacesChinaCovered nationUltra-low-iron melt + rolling; China-dominated processing.
Tin SmelterChinese tin smelters (feed from Myanmar/Indonesia ore)ChinaCovered nationChina dominant tin refiner; imports ore from Myanmar/Indonesia -> flagged.

Raw material (6)

InputOriginSourcing riskBasis
Solar-grade PolysiliconClosed supplier list: Hemlock (US), Wacker (Germany), OCI (Korea)United StatesNo known risk factorMaxeon's differentiator: zero China polysilicon. Sourced from allied refiners only.
Metallurgical-grade Silicon (MGSi)MGSi from a closed list of countries excluding ChinaUnited StatesNo known risk factorFeedstock for polysilicon. China makes ~80% of global silicon metal, but Maxeon contractually excludes China-origin MGSi -> allied only.
Refined Copper (cathode)Electrorefined 99.99% CuChinaCovered nationChina smelts >40% of global refined copper; midstream chokepoint -> flagged even when ore is allied-mined.
Refined SilverSilver smelting/refiningChinaCovered nationMuch silver is a byproduct of Chinese lead/zinc/copper refining; China is a major refined-silver hub -> flagged.
Primary Aluminum IngotElectrolytic (Hall-Heroult) smeltingChinaCovered nationChina ~60% of global primary aluminum output -> flagged midstream.
Refined Tin (solder)Tin smelting/refiningChinaCovered nationChina ~48% of global refined tin output -> flagged midstream.

Mine and extraction (7)

InputOriginSourcing riskBasis
Metallurgical Quartz / Silica OreAllied quartz quarries (US/Norway/Spain)United StatesNo known risk factorBulk SiO2 feed for silicon metal smelting; widely available, allied sources used.
Spruce Pine HPQ DepositSpruce Pine, North Carolina, USAUnited StatesNo known risk factorWorld's dominant high-purity quartz source; irreplaceable upstream chokepoint but allied/domestic.
Copper Ore (concentrate)Escondida/Chuquicamata (Chile), PeruChileElevated sourcing riskChile ~27% of world mine output; ore allied-mined but concentrate largely shipped to China for refining -> flagged downstream, mine itself review.
Silver OreSonora/Zacatecas (Mexico), PeruMexicoElevated sourcing riskMexico is world's #1 silver producer; ore allied-mined but a share is refined in China -> mine review.
Bauxite OreGuinea (world's largest reserves), Australia, IndonesiaGuineaElevated sourcing riskBauxite allied/African-mined but ~70-80% of Guinea exports China-controlled and refined in China -> mine review.
Ultra-low-iron Silica SandSilica sand quarries feeding solar-glass furnacesChinaCovered nationChina largest producer/consumer of low-iron silica sand for glass -> flagged.
Tin Ore (cassiterite)Indonesia; Myanmar (feeds Chinese smelters)IndonesiaElevated sourcing riskTin ore mined in Indonesia/Myanmar; Myanmar ore heavily routed to Chinese smelters -> mine review.

Material flow (35 relationships)

  • Maxeon Solar Technologies manufactures IBC Solar Cell (crystalline silicon) (IBC solar cell)
  • Maxeon Solar Technologies assembles Module Lamination & Assembly (Module lamination & assembly)
  • IBC Solar Cell (crystalline silicon) supplies Monocrystalline Silicon Wafer (Monocrystalline silicon wafer)
  • IBC Solar Cell (crystalline silicon) supplies Copper Foundation / Plated Cu Contacts (Plated copper foundation/contacts)
  • IBC Solar Cell (crystalline silicon) supplies Silver Metallization Paste (Silver metallization paste)
  • Monocrystalline Silicon Wafer supplies Solar-grade Polysilicon (Solar-grade polysilicon)
  • Monocrystalline Silicon Wafer supplies High-Purity Quartz Crucible (HPQ crucible (CZ ingot growth))
  • Solar-grade Polysilicon refines Polysilicon Refiner - Hemlock Semiconductor (Polysilicon (US))
  • Solar-grade Polysilicon refines Polysilicon Refiner - Wacker (Polysilicon (Germany))
  • Solar-grade Polysilicon refines Polysilicon Refiner - OCI (Polysilicon (Korea))
  • Solar-grade Polysilicon supplies Metallurgical-grade Silicon (MGSi) (Metallurgical-grade silicon)
  • Metallurgical-grade Silicon (MGSi) refines Silicon Metal Smelter (allied) (Silicon metal smelting)
  • Silicon Metal Smelter (allied) sources from Metallurgical Quartz / Silica Ore (Metallurgical quartz ore)
  • High-Purity Quartz Crucible refines HPQ Processor - Sibelco / The Quartz Corp (High-purity quartz processing)
  • HPQ Processor - Sibelco / The Quartz Corp sources from Spruce Pine HPQ Deposit (Spruce Pine HPQ ore)
  • Copper Foundation / Plated Cu Contacts supplies Refined Copper (cathode) (Refined copper cathode)
  • Refined Copper (cathode) refines Copper Smelter / Electrorefinery (Copper electrorefining)
  • Copper Smelter / Electrorefinery sources from Copper Ore (concentrate) (Copper ore concentrate)
  • Silver Metallization Paste supplies Refined Silver (Refined silver)
  • Refined Silver refines Silver Smelter/Refinery (Silver refining)
  • Silver Smelter/Refinery sources from Silver Ore (Silver ore)
  • Module Lamination & Assembly supplies Anodized Aluminum Frame (Aluminum frame)
  • Module Lamination & Assembly supplies Low-iron Tempered Solar Glass (Solar glass)
  • Module Lamination & Assembly supplies EVA / POE Encapsulant Film (EVA/POE encapsulant)
  • Module Lamination & Assembly supplies Polymer Backsheet (fluoropolymer) (Backsheet)
  • Module Lamination & Assembly supplies Junction Box + Bypass Diodes (Junction box)
  • Module Lamination & Assembly supplies Tin-coated Copper Solder Ribbon (Solder ribbon interconnect)
  • Anodized Aluminum Frame supplies Primary Aluminum Ingot (Primary aluminum ingot)
  • Primary Aluminum Ingot refines Alumina Refinery + Al Smelter (Alumina refining + Al smelting)
  • Alumina Refinery + Al Smelter sources from Bauxite Ore (Bauxite ore)
  • Low-iron Tempered Solar Glass refines Solar Glass Float/Roll Line (Glass melting/rolling)
  • Solar Glass Float/Roll Line sources from Ultra-low-iron Silica Sand (Ultra-low-iron silica sand)
  • Tin-coated Copper Solder Ribbon supplies Refined Tin (solder) (Refined tin solder)
  • Refined Tin (solder) refines Tin Smelter (Tin smelting)
  • Tin Smelter sources from Tin Ore (cassiterite) (Tin ore (cassiterite))

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 Maxeon Solar Technologies, 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.

Secondary sources (25) - trade press, analysts, reference works

Common questions

Where does Maxeon Solar Technologies source the inputs in this product?
This map traces 36 inputs across 11 countries, including 17 mines and refiners. It is compiled from public sources and is not an audited bill of materials.
How much of the Maxeon Solar Technologies supply chain sits in a covered nation?
17 of 36 mapped inputs are sited in a covered nation (China, Russia, Iran or North Korea) or named on a federal restricted-party list. A further 8 carry elevated sourcing risk without either basis.
Is Maxeon Solar Technologies itself a Foreign Entity of Concern?
Uncertain. Maxeon Solar Technologies is not named on any of the 3 federal restricted-party lists screened for this record (DOD Section 1260H, BIS Entity List, OFAC SDN List), but its FEOC status is unresolved and depends on ownership or component-level analysis. Sourcing risk in this map describes where inputs are mined and refined and is a separate question from the company's own federal screening.