l'Actualité du Solaire

Silicon :

After the Chinese New Year, supply and demand are gradually returning to normal, and the frenzy to buy silicon is easing. Some ingot manufacturers had already placed orders before the holidays to cover new production capacity.

Market prices have recovered more rapidly, with most major silicon manufacturers quoting prices between 238 and 245 RMB/kg in February. Actual commercial prices may be lower, but they have still clearly increased compared to last month.

Wafers :

Tier 1 and Tier 2 mono-Si wafer manufacturers have increased their prices since January. LONGi, Zhonghuan and other manufacturers have revised their prices more frequently. Before the Lunar New Year holidays, Zhonghuan raised its prices on 12 and 26 January, and LONGi did the same on 16 and 27 January. Other manufacturers are also increasing the prices of their mono-Si wafers to varying degrees.

Prices for the 210mm/160 μmaverage 8.45 RMB/piece;

those for the 182 mm/165 μm at 6.35 RMB/piece;

166 mm/165 μm at 5.28 RMB/piece.

Cells :

Upstream prices remain on an upward trend following the Lunar New Year holiday. Prices for M6, M10 and G12 cells increase slightly to RMB1.07-1.1/W, RMB1.1-1.12/W and RMB1.1-1.12/W, an increase of RMB0.01-0.02/W from pre-Lunar New Year levels.

The upward trend in prices will continue. Trading prices continue to rise slightly. They stand at 1.13-1.14 RMB/W on foreign markets.

Cell sales have resumed on foreign markets (Korea, India, etc.). Average overseas prices have been revised upwards this week, to $0.158-0.159 for M10 cells. Order volumes for cells have held up, supporting those for wafers. As a result, it is difficult for wafer prices to fall significantly in the short term. Cell prices peaked at over 1.1 RMB/W last year, while panel prices remained around 1.95-2 RMB/W. Therefore, given the acceptance of the panel sector, cell prices are unlikely to reach 1.13-1.14 RMB/W in China and will remain stable. Meanwhile, overseas markets will benefit from premiums, thanks to strong demand for storage in India.

Panels :

Pressure has increased in the panel sector since the end of the Lunar New Year. Prices of BOMs, such as backsheet and glass, are set to rise due to higher raw material prices. As supply chain prices rise, panel prices are also expected to increase, by RMB 0.02-0.03/W in China and by RMB 0.002-0.004/W in overseas markets.

As the market has just returned from holiday, prices have not moved this week, with panel manufacturers and end-users unable to agree on a price.

At present, some manufacturers are cutting back on their purchases of raw materials, while others are planning to reduce utilisation rates in the second half of February and in March. End-users seem to be increasingly cautious about price rises.

In China, Tier 1 manufacturers have mainly delivered 166mm glass-foil mono-Si panels at 1.8-1.88 RMB/W, and glass-foil mono-Si panels over 500W at 1.88-1.9 RMB/W. There is less and less demand for 166mm products. Manufacturers intend to modify their production capacity during the first half of the year by cancelling 166mm lines and installing others with larger formats. The reduction in production volume has meant that prices for 166mm panels have moved closer to those for 182mm panels.

Prices have stabilised on foreign markets. European and Indian demand increased during the first quarter. Prices for glass-foil panels with a wattage of over 500 W stood at $0.27-0.275/W for the month of January.

https://www.infolink-group.com/en/solar/spot-price/2022-0209-PV-spot-price

PV InfoLink of 9 February 2022