The market as a whole has stabilized due to the robust demand, and prices are on a positive, upward trend. However, manufacturers across the supply chain have been very restrained in adjusting their quotes because they do not want significant fluctuations in price trends. Prices of polysilicon and wafers have held steady because there has been a significant turnaround in demand, and manufacturers in these markets have tightly controlled the supply of their products. Regarding the cell and module markets, prices have only increased marginally despite rising demand and even shortages for some products. The supply-demand relations across the supply chain are expected to gradually move toward a healthier state, and the positive mood of the market will likely persist for a prolonged period.
Polysilicon
Noticeable and positive changes have occurred in the polysilicon market this week. Suppliers’ inventories have fallen just as the downstream demand is starting to pick up. More medium- and small-size manufacturers in China and overseas markets have halted production. Currently in China, prices of polysilicon for multi-Si products are kept around RMB 72-78/kg, while prices of polysilicon for mono-Si products are kept around RMB 80-83/kg. Outside China, prices of polysilicon materials have held steady in the range of US$8.5-10.2/kg.
Wafers
Chinese suppliers have raised the capacity utilization rates of their multi-Si wafer production lines this week. As for their mono-Si wafer production, they now practically keep no stock at hand. Some Chinese suppliers are even prioritizing their shipments based on clients’ billing cycles. With these developments causing a positive shift in the supply-demand relations, prices of mono-Si wafers in China have risen to RMB 3.05-3.10/pc (the average has moved up to RMB 3.08/pc). Prices of multi-Si wafers in China have stayed constant in the range of RMB 2.08-2.20/pc. The average price of black silicon wafers (or the highest price for multi-Si wafers) in China has also remained stable at RMB 2.25/pc. Outside China, prices of mono-Si wafers are kept around US$0.380-0.390/pc, while prices of multi-Si wafers have moved up to around US$0.255-0.280/pc. The average of the multi-Si wafers outside China has risen to US$0.270/pc, while the price of black silicon wafers has remained at US$0.305/pc.
Cells
The cell market is still very hot this week, with demand practically exceeding supply for high-efficiency mono-Si cells from first-tier manufacturers. The supply of mono-Si products going to overseas markets is being squeezed by the rising demand in China. As a result, some clients outside China are willing to pay a higher price to secure their shipments. Currently in China, prices of conventional mono-Si cells, high-efficiency mono-Si cells, and superior high-efficiency mono-Si cells (>21.5%) are in the ranges of RMB 1.00-1.08/W, RMB 1.12-1.20/W, and RMB 1.20-1.30/W, respectively.
Outside China, cell prices have generally gone up this week. Prices of conventional multi-Si cells have risen to US$0.102-0.130/W, with the average now sitting at US$0.109/W. Prices of conventional mono-Si cells have moved upward to US$0.135-0.155/W, with the average advancing to US$0.150/W. Prices of high-efficiency mono-Si cells have also risen to US$0.155-0.172/W, with the average climbing to US$0.168/W. On the other hand, prices of superior high-efficiency mono-Si cells (>21.5%) have been maintained within the range of US$0.170-0.178/W. As for the market for bifacial cells, their prices are still selling at RMB 1.30/W or above.
Modules
Prices at which modules are sold have not changed significantly this week even as the market is seeing brisk orders. However, prices of high-efficiency modules have gone up in China due to demand outstripping supply.
Currently in China, prices of conventional multi-Si modules (270-275W) and high-efficiency multi-Si modules (280-285W) are kept within the ranges of RMB1.78-1.85/W and RMB 1.80-1.93/W, respectively. As for prices of mono-Si modules in China, the price ranges of conventional (290-295W), high-efficiency (300-305W), and superior high-efficiency (>310W) are RMB 1.83-1.96/W, RMB 2.10-2.20/W, and RMB 2.20/W or higher, respectively. Outside China, prices of conventional multi-Si modules and high-efficiency multi-Si modules have been holding steady in the ranges of US$0.205-0.265/W and US$0.210-0.275/W, respectively. Prices of mono-Si modules outside China have been stable as well, with prices of conventional and high-efficiency products maintaining within the ranges of US$0.242-0.360/W and US$0.265-0.380/W.
(Image: Activ Solar via Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0)