Solar Cell Price and Supply and Demand Review in Q1 2023 and Forecast in Q2 2023

SHANGHAI, Apr 24 (SMM) - Review: In the first quarter of 2023, solar cell and module output were 107.45 GW and 95.8 GW respectively. The in-plant inventory of solar cells held by the producers shall be 11.65 GW. In the middle and early January, solar cell prices were on a downward track amid the critically sluggish PV market. In February, the downstream companies were active in purchasing on dips boosted by the demand, thus the solar cell makers raised their operating rates and quotes. But the market then saw a supply surplus. In March, the solar cell inventory days carried by the producers reached a seven-day high. In the first ten days of March, the quotes fell slightly as the solar cell makers intended to ease the inventory pressure. The price difference between P-type and N-type widened owing to the phased imbalance of the supply and demand of the latter

SMM forecast: Approaching the mid-year intensive installation of solar cells in the second quarter of 2023, the domestic solar cell demand will be relatively abundant, while overseas consumption may not be high. SMM believes that the intensive production schedules of solar cell makers will push the supply up to a high level in the second quarter of 2023, which, coupled with the falling polysilicon prices, will weigh heavily on solar cell prices.