Given that the outbreak was yet to be contained and the labor unable to return to work on time this week, it was inevitable that the price was going up in this under-supplied market. Both the manufacturers and logistics services in China were still not fully operational. The full impact of this outbreak will only start showing in late February. The parties that are most exposed to the impact at the moment are the overseas module manufacturers locating the furthest away from the outbreak. As the pressure of material exhaustion and order delivery is rising, it is expected that the businesses will rush to secure the raw materials. Looking ahead, the prices in overseas markets are starting to fluctuate. The various products would show mixed developments. The supply and demand of the domestic market would rise and fall as the situation of the outbreak changes. The overall supply would be delayed as a result.
Polysilicon
The price of polysilicon was still stable this week. The supply of silica, polysilicon's upstream raw material, and related supplementary materials was increasingly uncertain. The connection of logistics services was also still unstable. Meanwhile, major overseas manufacturers also announced that some of the production lines that were being maintained will not return to operation for the time being. As a result, the pressure to increase the prices in both of the markets in China and the rest of the world was building up. It is estimated that the changes will be clearly reflected in the prices in March.
In the Chinese domestic market, the price range of mono-grade polysilicon remains unchanged at RMB 67 ~ 74 /KG at the moment. The price range of the polysilicon remains unchanged at RMB 48 ~ 54 /KG. Affected by exchange rate fluctuations, the range of the overseas price is raised to US$8.63 ~ 9.01 /KG. The average price is raised to US$8.78 /KG. The global average price is raised to US$8.65 /KG.
Wafers
The wafer prices remained unchanged this week. The markets showed that companies were in the middle of getting their employees to return to work. Prices were quoted more often than they were accepted. On the other hand, there were quite a few manufacturers that have restocked in advance, especially mono-Si manufacturers. Given the situation described above, the prices are very likely to rise in the future.
In the overseas market, the range of the multi-Si wafer price revision is US$0.190 ~ 0.195 /Pc at the moment. The price of the black silicon products remains unchanged at US$0.246 /Pc. The price range of the 156.75 mm mono-Si wafer remains unchanged at US$0.380 ~ 0.421 /Pc. The price range of the large size wafer (158.75 mm) remains unchanged at US$0.423 ~ 0.430/Pc. The price of the 166.75 mm wafers remains unchanged at US$0.455 /Pc.
In the Chinese domestic market, the price range of the 156.75 mm multi-Si wafer remains unchanged at RMB 1.52 ~ 1.56 /Pc. The price of black silicon products remains unchanged at RMB 1.94 /Pc. The price range of the cast-mono wafer remains unchanged at RMB 2.60 ~ 2.65 /Pc. The price range of the 156.75 mm mono-Si wafer is revised up to RMB 3.00 ~ 3.13 /Pc. The average price remains unchanged at RMB 3.09 /W. The price range of the large size mono-Si wafer (158.75 mm) remains unchanged at RMB 3.28 ~ 3.37 /Pc. The price of the 166.75 mm wafer remains unchanged at RMB 3.40 /Pc.
PV Cells
This week, an increase in the cell price looked imminent in the markets around the globe. The main reason was the outbreak’s impact on the operating rate and the efficiency of the logistics. The supply of main raw materials required for the currently ongoing cell production may be disrupted in the upcoming 2 to 3 weeks, especially wafers, screens and paste. It is estimated that the changes may be reflected in the market prices next week.
In the overseas market, the price range of the general multi-Si cell is revised up to US$0.079 ~ 0.115 /W at the moment. The average price is raised to US$0.080 /W. The price range of the general mono-Si cell remains unchanged at US$0.102~0.107 /W. The price range of the high-efficiency mono-Si cells remains unchanged at US$0.112~0.133 /W. The price range of the superior high-efficiency mono-Si cells (>21.7%) is revised up to US$0.120 ~ 0.165 /W. The average price is raised to US$0.130 /W.
In the Chinese domestic market, the price range of the general multi-Si cell remains unchanged at RMB 0.56 ~ 0.58 /W. The price of the high-efficiency multi-Si cells remains unchanged at RMB 0.61 /W. The price range of the general mono-Si cells remains unchanged at RMB 0.80~0.85 /W. The price range of the high-efficiency mono-Si cell remains unchanged at RMB 0.89~0.95 /W. The price range of the superior high-efficiency mono-Si cell (>21.7%) remains unchanged at RMB 0.90 ~ 0.98 /W. The price of the bifacial superior high-efficiency mono-Si cells (>21.7%) remains unchanged at RMB 1.03 /W.
Modules
The changes in the module prices were first indicated in the overseas market this week. Regarding the Chinese market, the actual changes in the prices have not been reflected in the market, on account of the operation resumption being delayed and restricted. It is estimated that, with the rise of the cell prices, the module price will also follow suit next week. The key supplementary materials were in shortage for the same reasons mentioned above. Many will likely voice their intentions to raise the price due to the short supply in the next few weeks.
In the overseas market, the price range of the 60-cell general multi-Si (275W-280W) is revised up to US$0.195 ~ 0.229 /W at the moment. The average price remains unchanged at US$0.203 /W. The price range of the 72-cell high-efficiency multi-Si (325W-330W) remains unchanged at US$0.198 ~ 0.220 / W. The average price is raised to US$0.218 /W. The range of the general mono-Si (305W-310W) price revision is US$0.298 ~ 0.395 /W. The average price is raised to US$0.313 /W. The range of the high-efficiency mono-Si (315W-320W) price revision is US$0.229 ~ 0.340 /W. The average price is lowered to US$0.284 /W. The price range of the superior-high efficiency mono-Si (>320W) is revised up to US$0.228 ~ 0.390 /W. The average price is lowered to US$0.258 /W.
In the domestic market, the price range of the 60-cell general multi-Si (275W-280W) remains unchanged at RMB 1.51~1.62 /W. The price range of the 72-cell high-efficiency multi-Si (325W-330W) remains unchanged at RMB 1.59~1.63 /W. The price range of the general mono-Si (305W-310W) remains unchanged at RMB 1.63~1.69 /W. The price range of the high-efficiency mono-Si (315W-320W) remains unchanged at RMB 1.71~1.80 /W. The price range of the superior-high efficiency mono-Si (>320W) remains unchanged at RMB 1.76~1.81 /W.
(Image by Sebastian Ganso from Pixabay)
