Hello dear readers, in today’s blog post, we will look at some interesting trends and dynamics in the ever-evolving solar industry globally. This blog would be a handy guide for those who are keen on monitoring solar companies and are planning ahead with solar panels for their home.
The Lunar New Year celebrations recently brought active trading activity within the solar industry to a brief pause, with Wafer FOB China prices, resultant, remaining steadily flat. Mono PERC M10 and G12 wafer prices were constant at $0.246 per piece (pc) and $0.357/pc, respectively. This scenario was influenced by the significant supply of wafers that clearly outweighed downstream demand.
Significant production cuts from downstream manufacturers since February were a noticeable trend. According to the Silicon Industry of China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, February’s wafer output could be pegged around 55 GW, whereas cell production output for the same period could be between only 35 GW to 40 GW.
This period of limited demand has however resulted in an overstock of wafers. Monitoring the supply and demand dynamics of the wafer market is crucial for solar companies to understand and predict future trends. The information is vital when considering a solar array for home or commercial use, as it affects the availability and pricing of these critical components.
Moving forward, I am expecting March to witness an accelerated purchasing trend from cell producers, due to a predicted surge in global end-user demand for solar. This could potentially result in a rise or, at least, a steady leveling off in wafer prices.
In other news, there have been a few cancellations and delays in announced solar manufacturing projects. A prime example being Beijing JYT Corporation postponing its production time for a 22 GW ingots and wafering project at the Leshan base due to the intense competition and significant fluctuations in wafer prices, amongst other factors. Mubang High-tech Co also cited possible financial uncertainties for potentially terminating its new 5 GW a year n-type wafers facility.
Albeit seemingly negative, such consolidations are deemed essential for the survival of the best strategies in fostering an improved solar manufacturing ecosystem. As the industry moves towards getting rid of obsolete and redundant production capacities, any price stability or hike can only be temporary.
To stay abreast of these and many other crucial trends in the world of solar that could potentially affect the prospects of installing solar panels for your home or the operation of your solar company, be sure to keep visiting my page for timely updates and invaluable insights.
Until next time, remember, the world gets brighter, one solar panel at a time. Stay inspired!
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/02/16/solar-wafer-prices-momentarily-stable-masking-turbulence-of-industry-consolidation/
