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In a new weekly update for pv magazine , OPIS, a Dow Jones company, offers a quick look at key pricing trends in the global photovoltaic industry. FOB prices in China for G12 wafers remained stable this week, with Mono PERC G12 wafers at $0.208/unit and N-type G12 wafers at $0.196/unit. In contrast, M10 wafer prices increased: Mono PERC M10 wafers rose to $0.145/unit and N-type M10 wafers reached $0.151/unit, representing weekly increases of 0.69% and 1.34%, respectively. The increase in wafer prices is primarily due to the increase in domestic solar installation projects in China, which has limited availability for export. Increased purchasing activity, supported by two new solar energy policies set to take effect in May and June, has spilled over into the wafer segment, significantly boosting demand. Reports indicate a slight temporary supply shortage, and some cell manufacturers have actively contacted major wafer suppliers to secure supply commitments. Although the current price trend is expected to remain stable during the second quarter, industry sources warned that the implementation of the aforementioned new solar energy policies could curb end-user demand for photovoltaic products in the third quarter, putting further pressure on wafer prices. On the product side, one market participant observed an increase in Mono PERC wafer production, attributing this trend to patent-related challenges affecting the production of TOPCon and BC cells. These difficulties have made Mono PERC cell production a lower-risk alternative. On the global market, a Cambodian company will launch a 2 GW ingot production plant in May. According to trading sources, this facility currently operates a 2 GW wafer slicing plant using ingots from China. Meanwhile, a Chinese manufacturer that has just established a new 3 GW wafer slicing plant in Laos is struggling to secure customers. Following the inclusion of one of its factories in China on the US list of non-traceable entities in January, some customers have switched to competitors to mitigate the risks of exporting to the US market. Indias Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has tightened its domestic content requirement (DCR) rules, restricting the use of imported diffuse wafers (blue wafers) in locally manufactured solar photovoltaic cells, according to a March 11 notification. Industry sources revealed that Indian imports of blue wafers are primarily from foreign cell manufacturers, rather than wafer producers, as diffused wafers are considered partially manufactured solar cells. The policy aims to reduce dependence on semi-processed imports by encouraging Indian manufacturers to invest in texturing and diffusion equipment for domestic cell production. However, one source cautioned that while restricting imports of non-diffused wafers may lead to an increase in imports of diffused wafers, expanding domestic diffusion capacities will take time. OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides energy prices, news, data, and analysis on gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, LPG/LNG, coal, metals and chemicals, as well as renewable fuels and environmental commodities. In 2022, it acquired the price data assets of the Singapore Solar Exchange and now publishes the OPIS APAC Solar Weekly Report . |
