Update: Jinko says it did not reduce PV panel prices in the last quarter

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A company representative for Chinese giant JinkoSolar today told pv magazine that it did not lower any panel prices during the period in question and the impact on its profit margin, compared with the second quarter, occurred solely because of higher input materials prices.

That statement tallies with the remarks made by Jinko chairman and CEO Xiande Li, who wrote in yesterday's update: “Due to the transition to renewable energy in most regions of the world; the increase in electricity prices; financing support; and other favorable policies, clients are more willing to accept higher module prices.”

Elsewhere in the earnings update, Jinko said it had doubled the extent of its slice of the Chinese PV module market between the second and third quarters and it hopes to achieve more than 50% growth in annual shipments next year.

Jinko is also forging ahead with production capacity expansion, perhaps not surprisingly after the company saw solar cell manufacturing costs fall more than 10% in Q3 after the more-than-7 GW of production lines it switched on in the previous window were cranked up to full capacity.

With 31 GW of annual wafer manufacturing capacity online at the end of September, plus 19 GW of cell lines and 36 GW of module facilities, Jinko plans to raise those numbers to 32.5 GW, 24 GW, and 45 GW, respectively, by the end of December. Of the cell production lines, 940 MW were devoted to manufacturing the company's n-type, high efficiency components and Jinko wants that number to leap to 16 GW in the first three months of the new year.

The manufacturer also trailed the fact its 7 GW monosilicon wafer production fab in Vietnam is due online within the next four months, and would give it the same volume of joined up wafer, cell and module facilities outside China.

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In terms of the numbers, Jinko shipped 4,993 MW of product in the last quarter, including 4,671 MW of modules. That was slightly less than it shifted in April-to-June thanks to “logistical issues and blockages.” The company expects to move another 7-8.5 GW of modules in the current window – and total solar system shipments of 7.3-8.8 GW – for an expected full-year figure of 22.8-24-3 GW.

Income

Third-quarter revenue came in at RMB8.57 billion ($1.19 billion) – up 8.1%, quarter on quarter – for a gross profit of RMB1.3 billion ($180 million), and net income of RMB194 million ($26.9 million), almost treble the figure recorded in April-to-June. Jinko anticipates it will generate revenue of $1.8-2.2 billion ($250-305 million) for the full year.

Although the company balance sheet took a hit to the tune of almost RMB11 billion ($1.53 billion) less in total assets since the end of 2020, that was almost counterbalanced by a RMB10 billion ($1.39 billion) fall in total liabilities.

And the directors also offered up their thoughts on polysilicon, described as “currently in its most severe shortage,” by stating: “We expect polysilicon supply will gradually return to sufficient levels, starting next year.”

* This copy was amended on 01/12/21 after Jinko contacted pv magazine to confirm it had not reduced module prices in Q3.

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