L R AS Published on Tuesday 6 April 2021 - n° 357 - Categories:the prices
The 31 March awards
31 March prices according to PV InfoLink: lower panel capacity utilization has affected glass orders and therefore their price
Silicon :
Manufacturers are fulfilling orders placed. Buyer demand is low as panel production has declined. However, silicon prices are still rising. Sporadic orders have been signed, mostly at RMB 125-130/kg, some even exceeding RMB 130/kg. Even overseas orders are seeing marginal increases. Prices are expected to rise from RMB 120/kg to RMB 125-130/kg
Weak end demand and declining panel production should limit future silicon price increases. Thus, April could be the one to stop the rise.
Wafers:
Demand for wafers was strong in March. Manufacturers have run out of stocks. There are no price increases because cell producers are struggling to break even. As a result, LONGi has not raised its prices since mid-March. Zhonghuan raised its prices slightly for April. Overall, prices are stable.
M6 (166 mm) mono-Si wafers with a thickness of 175 µm traded at RMB 3.78-3.8/piece in the Chinese market, and at around $0.518/piece overseas. Prices for M10 (182 mm) and G12 (210 mm) wafers with a thickness of 175 µm are RMB 4.56/piece and RMB 6.16/piece respectively in the Chinese market.
To keep costs down, cell manufacturers will be asking for 170 µm wafers for M6 and smaller sizes in the second and third quarter.
The price of multicrystalline wafers has increased recently, as has the price of PERC monosilicon wafers. Strong demand from India is expected in the second half of the year. Prices have fluctuated to RMB 1.65-1.8/watt.
Cells:
Mono-Si cell prices remained at the same level as last week. Price hike trials have been cancelled by the manufacturers as there is no room for a hike
The decrease in panel production is having an impact on cell production: integrated cell manufacturers are limiting their production to the level of panel production. Others are considering changing their production lines. Cell prices are unlikely to increase. They should stabilise in the short term. They will depend on the future development of wafer prices.
G1 cells are experiencing lower demand in April. This week, order volumes are low. Prices have started to slip, with trading prices down slightly to 0.89-0.96 RMB/W, and an average of 0.9-0.92 RMB/W.
Panels:
End-user demand has fallen below expectations, with demand in the first quarter at 30-33 GW. Second quarter demand does not look more promising. Rising silicon and wafer prices prompted panel producers to reduce supply in April. In March, the major manufacturers' utilisation rates were 65% to 70%. In April, their capacity utilisation will be reduced to 60% or less.
The reduction in panel production in March and April had an effect on the price of glass, which fell by 25% in one month from RMB 38-40/m² to RMB 28/m². This reduced costs by more than RMB 0.04/watt as panel manufacturers struggle to break even since the Lunar New Year
https://www.infolink-group.com/en/solar/spot-price/2021-03-31-PV-spot-price
PV InfoLink of 31 March
