The price of 6-inch solar wafers has hovered around US$1.05-1.10/unit in recent months,however,due to falling capacity utilization rates and dwindling demand in Europe,recent pricing has fallen close to US$1/unit.
The price of 6-inch solar wafers in China has been falling below US$1/unit,arriving at US$0.98/unit.Despite severe price competition,some firms have refused to accept orders quoted below US$1/unit,according to Taiwan-based solar wafer firms.
Capacity utilization rates at solar cell makers in Greater China have been falling since July due to low demand in Europe.This has been causing solar wafer firms to compete over orders by lowering prices.
Green Energy Technology(GET),a Taiwan-based solar wafer maker has 2GW of total solar wafer capacity in Taiwan and has been operating at full capacity.GET's rented plants in China,however,are operating at only partial capacity.
New solar wafer firms in Jiangxi,China,have reportedly been trying to obtain orders and increase market share using low prices.The low prices have been allowing these firms to increase orders.
Nevertheless,using low prices to capture orders is not the only business strategy for solar wafer firms,said Taiwan-based solar cell makers.Sino-American Silicon(SAS),a Taiwan-based solar wafer maker,has been promoting high-efficiency products with average conversion efficiency above 17.75%.