As China-based crystalline silicon solar cell makers are expected to release orders to makers in Taiwan, while Europe- and Japan-based vendors will shift orders from China to Taiwan to avoid anti-dumping and anti-subsidization tariffs imposed by the US, and possibly the European Union (EU), Taiwan-based makers will see potential orders worth an estimated 12GWp of solar cells in 2013, according to chairman Ellick Liao for Taiwan Solar Energy (TSEC).
The US International Trade Commission has determined anti-dumping tariff rates of 18.32-249.96% and anti-subsidization rates of 14.78-15.97% against solar cells made in China. There will be estimated demand for 2.5GWp of PV products in the US market in 2012, with China-based solar cell makers expected to share 1GWp, in addition to supplies by US-based SunPower and First Solar as well as Japan-based Sharp and Kyocera and Germany-based SolarWorld, Liao indicated. Demand in the US in 2013 will increase to an estimated 3.5GWp, and China-based makers, without the barriers from tariffs, would share 2GWp, which is expected to be the total of orders to be released to Taiwan-based makers, Liao explained.
The EU's anti-dumping investigation covers solar-grade crystalline silicon wafers, solar cells and PV modules, with solar cells and PV modules expected to be the targets, Liaon said. If the EU imposes anti-dumping tariffs of over 20%, China-based solar cell makers will release orders to Taiwan, Liao analyzed. In addition, Europe- and Japan-based vendors originally placing orders with China-based makers will shift orders to Taiwan, Liao indicated. As Europe will import an estimated 10GWp of solar cells and PV modules from China in 2012, Taiwan-based solar cell makers will see potential orders for 10GWp in 2013 arising from the EU, Liao pointed out.
However, Taiwan-based solar cell makers currently have a total annual production capacity of 8GWp, Liao said.
The estimated potential orders available to Taiwan-based solar cell makers is subject to actual demand in Europe in 2013 and the EU imposing anti-dumping tariffs, and is subject to competition from South Korea-based makers such as Hanwha Solar which has acquired Germany-based solar cell maker Q-Cells, Liao pointed out.
