Solar firms in Greater China hoped to increase quotes before the Lunar New Year holidays, but a delay in China announcing its anti-dumping and anti-subsidy probe results has deterred the industry from raising prices for fear of losing orders.
Solar makers noted that the current price of solar cells with conversion efficiency around 17.2% is around US$0.35-0.36/watt while the price of solar cells with conversion efficiency around 17.6% is around US$0.38-0.39/watt. Solar makers predict that by May, solar cells with 17.4% conversion efficiency will become the mainstream.
Solar prices have been steady and most solar firms are optimistic about the market as the second quarter is a traditional boom season and investigation results are likely to be announced.
Due to increasing demand from Japan, the US and emerging solar markets, Taiwan-based solar wafer makers noted that supply has been tight. Some solar wafer firms whose production has yet to reach full capacity noted that orders have been increasing but prices have not, and hence the firms have yet to consider raising their utilization rates.
Solar wafer OEM orders from Japan-based firms have been preferred because of the prices and solar firms believe Japan-based peers will continue to issue wafer and cell OEM orders as domestic demand continues to rise, benefitting Taiwan-based firms.
So far in 2013, China-based polysilicon prices have been rebounding the most significantly pushing international material firms to adjust quotes as well.
