Some Taiwan-based crystalline silicon solar cell makers, due to a fear of losing competitiveness in the US market arising from anti-dumping tariffs being levied at an average rate of 19.50%, have reduced quotes to avoid losing orders from existing clients, according to industry sources in Taiwan.
Players in the Greater China market are worried that such a price reduction may develop into a price-cutting war among Taiwan-based solar cell makers, which would pose a detriment to Taiwan's solar cell industry, the sources said.
These Taiwan-based solar cell makers need not fear because the US market accounts for 10% of global PV demand and they can compete for the remaining 90%, equivalent to at least 35GWp a year, even if they lose all of the US market, the sources pointed out. Taiwan-based solar cell makers are globally competitive in terms of energy conversion rates, steady quality and production costs, the sources indicated.
Taiwan-based makers quote polycrystalline silicon solar cells at US$0.30-0.33/W currently, the sources said. Prices for such solar cells with relatively low energy conversion rates of 17.2-17.4% are expected to drop to below US$0.30/W in February mainly because demand in China will turn weak, the sources indicated.
