Rise in Chinese mono PERC cell output helps stabilize multi cell price as Indian orders slow

With Indian solar developers ordering fewer multi cells during the nation’s peak quarter for PV demand, Taiwanese analyst PV Info Link warned on Friday the price outlook for the technology is uncertain next month.

With the big Chinese manufacturers switching to high efficiency mono PERC cell production during the Chinese new year period, reduced multi cell outlook was balanced by a fall in order volume from the booming Indian market.

PV Info Link predicts the mono PERC cell price may decline “slightly” next month due to the rising production volume from China.

The analyst said the latest average multi cell price was around RMB0.88-0.9/W ($0.13) but the Southeast Asian market price was around $0.12/W.

With two of China’s leading solar wafer makers having recently raised prices on the back of strong demand, PV Info Link said prices across the board continued to rise, with multi wafer prices at around RMB2.1-2.15/piece. The mono wafer price was being continually reassessed, said the Taiwanese analysts, but spot market prices for small transactions were at around RMB3.25/piece.

PV Info Link said prices next month could stabilize or even increase further early next month.

The analysts said February’s polysilicon prices were stable, thanks to a large volume of orders being booked in before the new year holidays. PV Info Link reported an average mono wafer poly price of RMB81/kg and a multi price of RMB70-71/kg.