Demand for high conversion efficiency solar product remains while recent price trends are polarized

TAIWAN: According to the latest survey conducted by EnergyTrend, Chinese PV manufacturers are conservative about the market outlook. As a result, the polysilicon price continues to experience downward pressure, while the bottom line of its price quotation remains at $50/kg. The main trading price has declined between $50/kg and $52/kg; and the average price of polysilicon has slightly dropped by 1.98 percent to $51.51/kg.Source: EnergyTrend, Taiwan.

In addition, the Si wafer price is undergoing a different situation compared to the polysilicon price quotations. The spot price of mono-Si wafer has recovered with the price ranging between $2.5/piece and $2.8/piece, multi-Si wafer price ranged between $1.90/piece and $2.4/piece. Based on the average price quotation, the price of mono-Si wafer has increased by 0.42 percent to $2.603/piece, while the price of multi-Si wafer has declined by 0.3 percent to $2.007/piece.

In terms of cells and modules, EnergyTrend indicated that the visibility of module market demand still remained low and major manufacturers have not reduced production output. As a result, orders from secon and third tier PV manufacturers have plunged sharply and the price trend continued to hover in the low end. According to EnergyTrend’s survey, the average price of solar cell has declined by 3.72 percent to $0.751/Watt while the average price of module continued to decrease by 2.31 percent to $1.228/Watt.

Based on EnergyTrend’s survey, the demand prospects for the late third quarter to fourth quarter of 2011 remains unclear. However, the high conversion efficiency product demand remained strong, with orders in the European market continuing to grow. Manufacturers indicated that while the price remained low, product examination standards are tightened and European clients continued to show great demand for high conversion efficiency products.

As a result, the Si wafer prices were polarized this week, with the multi-Si wafer price in consistent decline, while the mono-Si wafer price rose.