Taiwanese-based energy market analyst company, EnergyTrend, has released its latest PV component price report. Reportedly, those for mono-si wafers have unexpectedly declined this week. This fall was said to have amplified the price reduction for multi-si wafers.
Indeed, mono is becoming increasingly cheap, while multi-si is struggling with high inventory and low demand. By the analysts' account, Taiwanese mono-si prices have remained at US$0.432-0.461/Pc, whereas multi-si prices have fallen to $0.298-0.317/Pc. Black silicon product prices, meanwhile, have remained at $0.324/Pc.
Looking at global price development, the analysts find that overseas mono-si prices have decreased to $0.38-0.40/Pc, with average prices falling to $0.390/Pc. Multi-si prices have dropped to $0.267-0.280/Pc, with average prices decreasing to $0.275/Pc. Also, black silicon product prices have declined to $0.315/Pc.
Struggling
PV grade polysilicon continues to struggle with oversupply, says EnergyTrend, although it reports that Tier 1 suppliers have signed orders in October with little noticeable effects resulting from the price decreases. The analysts add that previously closed small- and medium-sized plants, and production lines with higher costs, are looking at resuming business again.
Regarding costs, EnergyTrend says Taiwanese multi-si material prices have reached $10.51-11.81/Kg, with average prices falling to $11.09/Kg. Mono-si material prices are $11.66-12.67/Kg, with average prices dropping to $12.10/Kg. Meanwhile, overseas prices decreased to $9.0-10.2/Kg, with average prices at $9.8/Kg.
More positive
Regarding cells, the market looks better for Tier 1 mono-si manufacturers, with a nearly 100% capacity utilization rate. However, second and third-tier manufacturers, as well as multi-si suppliers’ utilization rates, remain below 40% levels.
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In Taiwan, general mono-si prices are $0.144-0.153/W, while high-efficiency mono-si prices have slightly increased to $0.161-0.169/W, and average prices remain unchanged at $0.166/W. Ultra-high efficiency mono-si (>21.5%) prices have grown to $0.167-0.176/W, with average prices of $0.169/W. General multi-si PV cell prices have slightly decreased to $0.115-0.122/W, with average prices falling to $0.119/W. Double-sided PV cell prices have remained at $0.173-0.187/W.
For overseas general mono-si products, the price range has been narrowed to $0.123-0.129/W, while prices for high-efficiency mono-si products have been lowered to $0.142-0.165/W, and unchanged average prices of $0.157/W. Ultra-high efficiency mono-si (>21.5%) prices have fallen to $0.148-0.168/W, and multi-si prices have remained at $0.102-0.133/W.
Mostly unchanged
According to EnergyTrend, module prices have remained mostly unchanged this week, due to the absence of momentum in the market. So far, the price range of domestic general multi-si (270-275W) has been narrowed to $0.252-0.266/W. High-efficiency multi-si (280-285W) prices have climbed to $0.259-0.278/W, while the price range of general mono-si (290-295W) has widened to $0.264-0.282/W. Also, for high-efficiency mono-si (300-305W) the price range increased to $0.305-0.317/W. With a look to ultra-high efficiency mono-si (>310W), prices have reached $0.317/W.
Overseas general multi-si prices are $0.218-0.290/W, while average prices have dropped to $0.219/W, and high-efficiency multi-si prices have remained at $0.220-0.280/W. The price range of general mono-si has narrowed to $0.246-0.370/W, and high-efficiency mono-si prices have fallen to $0.265-0.395/W.
Overall, the analysts claim the PV market is in need of new momentum to maintain a healthy equilibrium between demand and supply of silicon material, wafers, cells and modules.
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