Modules Risen Significantly in Order Inquiries as Wafer Prices Persist under Inflation Dynamics

Polysilicon

Polysilicon prices continued to drop slowly this week, where mono-Si compound feedings and mono-Si dense materials were concluded at a respective mainstream price of RMB 215/kg and 210/kg. Most polysilicon orders for March had been signed this week amidst sluggish market transactions, where businesses are focused on delivering previous orders right now, with merely a small number of additional and sporadic orders being signed. Polysilicon, followed by its confirmed status of sufficient provision, is deprived of drivers in price increment, and continues to fall steadily.

According to statistics, the industry has dropped to about 1-2 weeks of polysilicon inventory as the end of the month draws near, and most second-tier businesses are currently sitting on zero inventory under a slight improvement. Polysilicon supply is expected to somewhat increase during April. The downstream wafer segment, due to shortages of crucibles, is restricted in the increase of overall operating rate, with demand being essentially leveled. Polysilicon prices are likely to maintain a slowly reducing trend within the short term.

Wafers

Wafer prices were essentially stabilized this week, where M10 and G12 were respectively priced at RMB 6.5/pc and RMB 8.2/pc. With the shortages of wafers yet to be mitigated, demand for outsourcing and in-house uses from some businesses has elevated, which led to a drop in market circulation. Despite constant reduction in upstream polysilicon prices, as well as impeded inflation for downstream cells and modules that resulted in insufficient acceptance towards high wafer prices, several wafer businesses are reluctance in spot sales, and are thus able to retain their robust prices. As end demand gradually recovers recently, the market is persisting in high demand for wafers, where the restricted output of wafers on the whole is preventing wafer prices from falling. Wafer quotations may further elevate when negotiations for April orders begin next week.

Cells

Cell prices continued to stabilize this week, with M10 and G12 concluding at a mainstream price of RMB 1.08/W. Cells, due to impact from inventory amidst the inflation of wafers, are manifesting poorer ability in selling at market prices, and have magnified in cost pressure. A number of cell businesses had attempted to increase their prices during negotiations this week, however, mainstream concluded prices were largely leveled to that of last week judging by actual conclusions. Demand from downstream modules had slightly increased this month, though the cell segment is currently retaining a higher level of operating rate that has resulted in an excess supply, while the inhibition on profitability is also prompting a slight reduction in production schedules for some cell businesses, which would bring down the volume of output. Cell prices may carry on with robustness amidst anticipation on a cost stabilization.

Modules

This week’s module prices were leveled to that of last week, where 182 and 210 mono-Si single-sided PERC modules were priced at RMB 1.75/W, while 182 and 210 bifacial double-glass mono-Si PERC modules were priced at RMB 1.77/W. There are difficulties for modules to increase their prices under the persisting sentiment in price suppression from the end sector due to the stabilizing upstream cell prices amidst insignificant cost fluctuations. Module prices had thus maintained sturdiness this week. Domestic tender projects on centralized module procurement have been steadily increasing recently, followed by an increase in module delivery. Module exports to India and the US are likely to climb due to policies, whereas the gradually recovering level of demand in the European market is also expected to contribute to a recuperation in domestic and overseas demand. In addition, some module makers are commenting on how they have been seeing rising market inquiries, which are likely to finalize steadily next week.

N-type modules saw a minor fluctuation in mainstream market quotations, where 182 and 210 were respectively priced at RMB 1.8-1.9/W and RMB 1.97-2.12/W. Low-priced resources are steadily diminishing in availability.

In terms of auxiliary materials, glass prices were stable this week, where 3.2mm and 2.0mm were respectively priced at RMB 25.5/㎡ and roughly RMB 18.5/㎡. The successive initiation of projects from previous tenders has ramped up procurement aggressiveness of module makers, which led to an improvement in demand and various extents of reduction in inventory, and prices were mostly stabilized.