Silicon wafer production reduced in April, N-type cell production continued to grow

SHANGHAI, Apr 19 (SMM) -

Silica

Price

Silica prices are mainly stable. Currently, the operating rates of silicon companies in the south-west are still at a low level. In previous years, silicon companies in Sichuan region mostly carried out raw material procurement in mid-to-late April to prepare for the flood season in advance. However, due to the current low silicon prices and serious losses for companies, silicon companies in the south-west are not positive about resuming production, and the overall enthusiasm for raw material procurement is insufficient. The ex-mine price of low-grade silica in Yunnan is 350-370 yuan/ton. At present, the ex-mine price of high-grade silica in Inner Mongolia is 400-420 yuan/ton with the average down 5 yuan/ton. The ex-mine price of high-grade silica in Hubei is 420-480 yuan/ton. The ex-mine price of high-grade silica in Guizhou is 300-340 yuan/ton.

Supply and Demand

Supply: Mining and transportation at various domestic mines are normal, and there is currently no obvious gap in output supply.

Demand: The peak season for silica in the south-west is slightly cooler than in previous years, and some small silicon companies in the north-west have also suspended purchases recently, so the overall demand is slightly lacking.

Industrial silicon metal

Price

The spot price of industrial silicon was generally stable this week, with the price of 421# silicon slightly reduced. Downstream users placed orders on demand, and the transaction price of silicon powder orders remained weak.

Production

According to SMM statistics, China's industrial silicon output in March 2024 was 366,300 tons, a month-on-month increase of 21,000 tons or 6.2%, and a year-on-year increase of 53,000 tons or 17.1%. In April, a small number of small silicon companies in the north reduced production. The south was about to resume production due to the flat water period. Few standard silicon companies are in production. The operating rates of leading companies remained high, and the output of industrial silicon decreased month-on-month in April.

Inventory

Social inventory: According to SMM's statistics, social inventories of industrial silicon totalled 370,000 mt as of April 12, flat from a week ago. The inventory of general public warehouses was 114,000 tons, flat from a week earlier, and the inventory of public delivery warehouses was 256,000 tons (including the part that has not been registered as warehouse receipts), flat from last week. Factory warehouse inventory: Downstream on-demand orders were released during the week, silicon companies had decent transactions. Inventory showed a slight destocking trend.

Silicon wafer

Price

The mainstream average traded price of monocrystalline silicon wafer M10 and G12 stood at 1.6-1.7 yuan/piece and 2.1-2.35 yuan/piece respectively. N-type 182 silicon wafer price fell to 1.5-1.65 yuan/piece. Silicon wafer prices stayed largely stable this week.

Production

Affected by high inventory levels and falling prices, silicon wafer manufacturers have gradually reduced production. Currently, the estimated production schedule of silicon wafers in April has dropped to around 66GW.

Inventory

Although silicon wafer companies continue to cut prices to clear inventory, downstream purchases are limited and some leading companies have not yet reduced production. This week, silicon wafer inventories returned to above 4 billion pieces.

Solar cell

Price

The current price of high-efficiency PERC182 cells (efficiency of 23.2% and above) is 0.34-0.35 yuan/W; the price of PERC210 cells is about 0.35-0.38 yuan/W; the price of Topcon182 cells (efficiency of 24.4% and above) is about 0.39-0.41 yuan/W; Topcon210 battery cell 0.42-0.43 yuan/w.

Production

The output of n-type battery cells has maintained growth recently, while some manufacturers of p-type batteries have reduced production. Currently, some PERC production lines are under transformation, and the N-type output is expected to reach more than 44GW in April.

Inventory

Due to the production cuts of downstream modules and deepening wait-and-see sentiment in the market, battery demand has decreased and inventories have increased.

PV film

Price

PV-grade EVA/POE:

PV-grade EVA: The current trading price of domestic PV-grade EVA is 12600-12800 yuan/ton, cable-grade EVA price is 11500-11700 yuan/ton, and the price of foam-grade EVA is 10900-11100 yuan/ton The price of PV-grade POE remains stable, with 4-carbon POE maintaining a price of around US$2550-2650/ton, and 4-carbon POE price is around US$2650-2750/ton.

PV film

The current mainstream price of 420g transparent EVA film is 6.93-7.06 yuan/square meter, the price of 420g white EVA film is 7.35-7.94 yuan/square meter, the price of 380g EPE film is 7.90-8.06 yuan/square meter, and the price of 380g POE film is 10.26-10.45 yuan/square meter.

Production

The production schedule of photovoltaic-grade EVA has been further reduced this month, and maintenance is still ongoing.

Inventory

At present, the photovoltaic EVA inventory of film companies is normal, and the inventory of upstream companies has basically not changed significantly.