Price Review of PV Glass in 2022

SHANGHAI, Jan 4 (SMM) - In the first half of 2022, the domestic photovoltaic glass prices continued to rise amid the strong demand as domestic and foreign installed capacity increased. In the second half of 2022, the prices declined as the new capacity increased and the terminal power stations delayed the installation due to the high costs.

In the first half of 2022, the prices of 2.0 mm coated glass rose from 19.2 yuan/square meter at the beginning of the year to 22 yuan/square meter, and that of 3.2 mm coated glass rose from 25 yuan/square meter at the beginning of the year to 28.5 yuan/square meter. Since 2022, the prices of photovoltaic glass slowly bottomed out as the domestic and overseas demand was strong in the first half of 2022. The demand from India, Europe and the United States greatly increased, and thus the exports of modules increased. In addition, the prices of PV glass were supported by the increasing costs as the prices of natural gas increased significantly amid the power shortage in the first half of 2022. At the same time, the prices of quartz sand and soda ash also increased.

In the second half of 2022, the price of 2.0 mm coated photovoltaic glass dropped from 22 yuan/square meter in the middle of the year to 20.0 yuan/square meter at the end of the year, and that of 3.2 mm coated photovoltaic glass dropped from 28.5 yuan/square meter in the middle of the year to 26.75 yuan/square meter at the end of the year. In the second half of 2022, due to the increasing new capacity, the supply was in surplus. Coupled with the high prices of polysilicon, module manufacturers lowered the purchasing prices of PV glass to obtain profits. As such, the PV glass prices continued to decline.

It is expected that the follow-up PV glass prices will remain weak. On the one hand, the new capacity increased at the end of 2022 and the supply will increase after the production capacity ramps up. On the other hand, since December, 2022, the production of module plants is expected to decline further and the downstream enterprises purchase as needed. The weak demand may drag down the PV glass enterpises.