The European Union (EU) has settled with the China government to downward adjust the floor price for PV modules imported from China from EUR0.56 (US$0.77)/W currently to EUR0.53/W beginning April 2014, with the reduction inviting objection from Europe-based PV module makers, according to PV industry sources in Taiwan.
The EU set a floor price of EUR0.56/W and an annual import quota of 7GWp for PV modules imported from China in 2013 instead of imposing anti-dumping and anti-subsidization tariffs, the sources indicated. The lowering of the floor price is to reflect the global trend of decreasing production cost for PV modules, the sources said.
However, Europe-based PV module makers have objected to the floor price reduction because the total PV module demand in the Europe market in 2014 is expected to drop while the floor price cut will increase imports, the sources noted.
Europe-based makers have also requested the EU to cut the annual import quota for China from 7GWp to 5GWp or even 4.5GWp, but the EU has not yet made a decision, the sources added.
In related news, China-based PV module maker Trina Solar shipped 540-570MWp in first-quarter 2014, lower than the originally expected 670-700MWp, while fellow maker Yingli Green Energy Holdings' first-quarter PV module shipments slipped 30-34% sequentially, the sources indicated.
