L R AS Published on Monday 12 April 2021 - n° 358 - Categories:the prices
April 7 prices: silicon's upward trend continues.
The trend according to PV InfoLink: the upward trend in silicon continues. Wafer manufacturers working at full capacity
Silicon:
Silicon smelters have started to sign major long-term orders. The trend is growing. The price of monocrystalline silicon is trading at RMB 128-130/kg, with some transactions between RMB 130 and 140/kg. The rise in the Chinese market is spilling over into foreign prices, reaching $17/kg
The rise in monosilicon prices continues despite the significant reduction in panel production. As a result, there is a fear of a severe shortage in the third quarter, when global demand is high.
The price of multicrystalline depends on the ongoing negotiations
Wafers:
Manufacturers with sufficient silicon are working at full capacity. Demand is stable. Prices remain between RMB 3.78 and 3.80/piece in China and $0.518/piece abroad for 175 µm M6 formats. M10 and G12 wafers with a thickness of 175 µm are worth RMB 4.56/piece and RMB 6.16/piece.
Are downstream manufacturers concerned that the rise in silicon will be passed on to wafer prices? If wafer prices rise, cell producers would have to reduce their production capacity rates to avoid additional costs
Cells:
Monosilicon cell prices have remained roughly stable this week. G1 cell prices started to fall later in March, with trading prices again falling slightly this week, to RMB 0.88-0.93/W, with an average of RMB 0.9-0.92/W. The high price range has started to narrow. Some manufacturers have started to produce G1 size cells again. Their prices will decrease rather moderately in the first half of the year.
M6 cell prices are expected to rise by 0.01 RMB/watt. Cell manufacturers are gradually reducing utilisation rates due to changes in production lines and equipment maintenance, and as upstream price increases continue. Overall cell line utilisation rates are estimated to be around 70-80%, and have been declining more slowly than panel utilisation rates, as the latter reduced production significantly in April. Cell prices are not expected to rise
Traded volumes of large format cells are rather low
Panels:
End-user demand in the second quarter is below expectations. Utilization rates for most panel manufacturers are around 60% this month. Panel manufacturers are still suffering from strong inventory pressure, due to their huge production capacity and low demand, estimated at around 9-11 GW, which is lower than panel production.
https://www.infolink-group.com/en/solar/spot-price/2021-04-07-PV-spot-price
PV InfoLink of 7 April 2021
