PV Industry Chain Witnesses Broad-Based Price Rise

SHANGHAI, Feb 1 (SMM) – 

Silicon metal

Prices of high-grade silicon metal held firm, while those of low-grade products were relatively weak amid ample supply in north China.

Social inventories of silicon metal in the three major regions totalled 125,000 mt as of January 28, an increase of 2,000 mt from a week ago.

According to customs data, China exported 48,400 mt of silicon metal in December 2022, a month-on-month decrease of 2% and year-on-year decrease of 23%. Exports totalled 651,000 mt last year, down 16% YoY.

China's silicon metal import stood at 800 mt in December 2022, down 26% month on month but up 157% year on year. Import totalled 30,000 mt last year, up 606% YoY.

Polysilicon

The mainstream prices of recharging polysilicon and dense polysilicon rose to 180-200 yuan/kg and 175-185 yuan/kg respectively yesterday.

Downstream production ramp-up in February and pressure to deliver orders allowed polysilicon producers to regain their pricing power. Sharp price hike by leading polysilicon producers after the Chinese New Year has been gradually accepted by downstream buyers.

Silicon wafer

The mainstream transaction prices of monocrystalline silicon wafer M10 and G12 rose to 4.9 yuan/piece and 5.94 yuan/piece respectively yesterday. Rising polysilicon prices and growing downstream purchases encouraged silicon wafer companies to pass higher costs to buyers.

Solar cell

The mainstream transaction prices of monocrystalline PERC solar cell M10 and G12 climbed to 0.98 yuan/W and 1 yuan/W respectively yesterday.

The market is betting on tighter solar cell supply this month based on solar cell companies’ production schedules. Should silicon wafer prices go up further, solar cell prices will probably catch up as well. 

Module

Yesterday, the mainstream transaction price of single-sided-182mm monocrystalline PERC modules in the market was 1.78 yuan/w, versus 1.79 yuan/w for single-sided-210mm monocrystalline PERC modules, and 1.78 yuan/w for double-sided-182mm monocrystalline PERC modules.

The price rise of modules lagged behind that of solar cells and silicon wafers as the former was more resilient to decline than the latter previously.

PV film

Two PV film companies raised their prices by 6%-10%.

PV-grade EVA

Supply and demand: At present, the inventory of PV-grade EVA manufacturers is about 70,000 mt. It is expected that they will maintain high production in February, and the supply in February will be relatively sufficient.