Solar cell prices spike drastically this week driven by robust orders for high-efficiency cell from Japan, where rooftop and utility-scale solar projects are bourgeoning.

Solar cell prices spike drastically this week driven by robust orders for high-efficiency cell from Japan, where rooftop and utility-scale solar projects are bourgeoning. Additionally, rush orders from Europe are also on a rise as anti-dumping issue has resulted in cell supply shortage at currently stage. On the other hand, solar cell demand from emerging markets such as China, India, and Latin America also performs relatively strong growth. Furthermore, a number of cell makers are restrained to expand production swiftly to fulfill rush orders due to labor shortage. On account of solid demand and limited cell supply in the near term, solar cell price continues to hike at a notable pace this week.

Solar module prices climb moderately this week largely attributed to demand pick-up from Japan, China and emerging markets. Utility-scale solar projects as well as roof-top PV system installation in Japan are now expanding vastly, which significantly catalyzes the overall demand for solar module products. Additionally, module orders from China continue to rise as downstream system integrators accelerate installation process to meet deadlines of Gold Sun program by 2Q13. Solar module demand from emerging markets such as Africa, Middle East, India and Southeastern Asia expands increasingly thanks to strategic alliance between module players and utility suppliers. Driven by solid demand, solar module prices climb sequentially this week.
Multi-silicon wafer price dipped slightly this week, affected by production recovery over the past few weeks and below-expectation procurement from downstream cell makers. While cell makers maintain outsourcing manufacturing orders with wafer supply from their clients, demand for multi-silicon wafer is somewhat different from cell demand situation. Furthermore, the notably drop in polysilicon price has overshadowed multi-silicon wafer price this week. On the other hand, mono wafer price presents flattish growth this week mainly driven by buoyant demand from downstream mono cell makers, of which mostly procure mono wafer material in the spot market.
Polysilicon price continues to drop this week owing to persisting oversupply and increasing volume of polysilicon sold for cash by wafer makers in the spot market. Furthermore, China anti-dumping may not retrospect to the potential levy as anticipated; the uncertain condition has aroused market worries on potential inflow of imported polysilicon in the near future. Hence, wafer makers are less aggressive to build inventory, which disappoints polysilicon suppliers and causes sequential price drop in polysilicon this week. Nevertheless, the price drop in polysilicon gradually narrows after the sharp price decline over the past few weeks.