Since many solar companies are preparing inventory for the upcoming lunar New Year holiday, they are forced to accept the polysilicon price increase in order to sustain high factory utilization.

PV and 2nd grade polysilicon prices remain on the uptrend this week. In midst of booming wafer demand, polysilicon traders and vendors continue increasing their prices. Since many solar companies are preparing inventory for the upcoming lunar New Year holiday, they are forced to accept the polysilicon price increase in order to sustain high factory utilization. Therefore, polysilicon prices remain on the price uptrend this week.

Overall multi wafer price is on the uptrend this week. On the one hand, high efficiency wafer shortage is not easily resolved in the short term due to lack of capital or headcounts. On the other hand, cell companies still maintain high factory utilization that the lack of supply continuously pushes up multi wafer prices. In addition, wafer companies need to reflect the increasing procurement cost from the polysilicon price uptrend. Mono wafer price therefore also moderately increase this week due to the higher polysilicon prices.
Overall cell price moderately increase this week due to the price uptrend of Taiwanese cells. Taiwanese cell companies try increasing their prices to offset the wafer price boom. However, with resistance from module companies, the cell price uptrend is lessened. Moreover, possible US antidumping investigation on Taiwanese solar cell export also adds uncertainty to cell shipment and prices. On the other hand, under high factory utilizations and a less promising module demand, Chinese cells have a more stable pricing to maintain their current customers. Therefore, overall cell prices only moderately improve this week.
Solar modules experience some price cut this week. Overall module demand in Q1 is less than previously expected by Chinese solar module makers. Therefore, some Chinese module makers start cutting their prices to increase sales, leading to the price drop this week.