As the US Department of Commerce reduced the average anti-dumping and anti-subsidization tariff rate imposed on China-made PV modules in 2012 from 30% to 17.50% at a review in early January, prices for polycrystalline silicon solar cells produced in countries other than China and Taiwan, mainly South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, have dropped from US$0.40-0.42/W before the review to US$0.36-0.37 currently, according to industry sources in Taiwan.
Due to the reduction in anti-dumping and anti-subsidization tariff rate, China-based PV module makers are expected to drastically decrease or even stop procurement of solar cells produced in Taiwan and other countries, the sources explained.
In related news, Gintung Energy, a joint venture established by Taiwan-based solar cell maker Gintech Energy and solar-grade crystalline silicon wafer maker Green Energy Technology, has adopted solar cells produced in South Korea and Malaysia to make PV modules in Taiwan for export to the US market, with the product being certified and shipments to begin in first-quarter 2015, the sources indicated.
