Taiwan-based crystalline silicon solar cell makers have received a significant increase in orders from first-tier China-based PV module makers and consequently ordered volumes have exceeded available production capacity by 50%, according to industry sources.
The surge of orders is possibly because China-based PV module makers plan to maximize exports to the US before the US Department of Commerce decides on anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs on China-made PV modules in June, the sources said.
Considering the possibility that orders from China-based PV module makers will drastically decrease in May or later due to the US tariffs, Taiwan-based solar cell makers have set shipment quotas based on relations with clients and the regions where clients are located, the sources indicated.
Specifically for orders from China, Taiwan-based solar cell makers have hiked quotes by 5% on average. For example, quotes for solar cells with average energy conversion rates of over 17.4% have risen from US$0.40-0.41/W in March to US$0.41-0.43/W currently, the sources said. However, prices for orders from other markets have not been upward adjusted.
