L R AS Published on Saturday 22 January 2022 - n° 390 - Categories:the manufacturers
The top ten panel shippers in 2021, according to PV InfoLink
Last week, PV Tech (Top ten PV panel suppliers for 2021 ?) provided a list of the top ten panel shippers. The two lists are
identical for the first six and places the last four in a different order
PV InfoLink provides the following additional details:
- LONGi shipped 10 GW more panels than Trina Solar and JA Solar, both tied in PV Infolink's rankings.
- Trina Solar shipped 65% of its deliveries abroad, which is exceptional.
- Companies outside the top ten shipped an average of 3 GW to 4 GW. The gap is widening between the top ten and their immediate rivals.
- The panel industry is showing clear signs of consolidation. Vertically integrated companies, which enjoy advantages in terms of costs, capacity and distribution channels abroad, have put Tier 2 and Tier 3 panel manufacturers under pressure. According to InfoLink's calculations, the top 10 companies shipped more than 160 GW of panels, accounting for 93% of global demand (172.6 GW). PV Tech estimates demand at 191 GW. This is well above the previous 70-80%. Looking at shipments to overseas markets, vertically integrated companies have shown a significant advantage over other manufacturers in distribution channels, with their market share increasing significantly in the second half of the year in regions where higher prices are more widely accepted.
- These ten manufacturers (excluding First Solar) shipped more than 60 GW of large-format panels. The volume of shipments doubled in the second half of the year compared with the first half. Large format panels accounted for around 40% of total shipments by the top 10 manufacturers (excluding First Solar), meaning that large format has become mainstream.
- Increasing concentration will make it even more difficult for small and medium-sized panel manufacturers to survive. Plans to increase cell and panel capacity will increase this differentiation. A price war is likely to reoccur in the second half of 2022, when manufacturers will be competing for market share. Smaller manufacturers will also have to contend with low utilisation rates and low profits due to the shortage of raw materials.
PV InfoLink, 21 January 2022
Editor's note This gradual concentration of panel manufacturers increases the danger of concerted action on prices and available volumes, as we saw in 2021 with silicon.
This danger seems to have been perceived for different reasons by the United States (in the name of the Sino-American war), by India (in the name of creating a developed economy) and, to a lesser extent, by the European Union.This danger seems to have been perceived for different reasons by the United States (in the name of the Sino-American war), by India (in the name of creating a developed economy) and to an extent yet to be confirmed by the European Union, which is planning measures to stimulate its photovoltaic industry in 2022.
A rebalancing of this dominance should gradually take place.
