This week, more and more people were returning to work. The overall market was still recovering from a prolonged holiday as a result. Manufacturers would soon face the problem of the raw material shortages and labor return speed that was slower than expected. These factors had ripple effects on the price changes at the end of the month. Looking ahead, demand from overseas markets remains persistent. Regional markets that traditionally have high demand during this time of the year are driving up the prices. Regarding the domestic market, it still takes some time to return to business as usual. Some parts of the supply chain will soon have difficulties procuring the required raw materials. How they deal with the situation will have an enormous impact on the supply chain.

Polysilicon
The prices of polysilicon remained stable this week. The overall supply of the market was still sufficient and stable. The manufacturers that remained operational during the CNY continued their production steadily, while those that suspended their operation were reluctant to resume the business. In addition to the looming shortage of raw materials, the labor return rate and how to adjust the production lines accordingly are also issues to be overcome. The pressure for most manufacturers mainly comes from the rising transportation costs and their ability to deliver the goods on time despite the challenges.

In the Chinese domestic market, the price range of mono-grade polysilicon remains unchanged at RMB 70~75 /KG at the moment. The price range of the polysilicon remains unchanged at RMB 50~54 /KG. Affected by exchange rate fluctuations, the range of the overseas price is lowered to US$8.60 ~ 8.97 /KG. The average price is lowered to US$8.75 /KG. The global average price is lowered to US$8.61 /KG.

Wafers
Silicon wafer prices remained unchanged this week. The pressure of the entire supply chain currently comes from the downstream. In comparison, the pressure on the wafer manufacturers was relatively mild. The supply of mono-Si products remained stable. However, the supply of multi-Si products was lagging behind the demand, mainly due to the fact that there were only a few manufacturers that have resumed their operation.

In the overseas market, the price range of the multi-Si wafer remains unchanged at 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 remains unchanged at RMB 3.00~3.13 /Pc. 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
The cell market, whether in China or the rest of the world, did not show the price increase as expected this week. Only the supply of multi-Si products lagged behind the demand, which led to price fluctuations. The cell production line that was already in-production had begun to adjust the capacity utilization rate to avoid raw material shortage in the future, which may lead to production difficulties.

In the overseas market, the price range of the general multi-Si cell remains unchanged at US$0.079 ~ 0.115 /W at the moment. 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%) remains unchanged at US$0.120~0.165 /W.

In the Chinese domestic market, the price range of the general multi-Si cell is revised up to RMB 0.57~0.59 /W. The price of high-efficiency multi-Si cell is raised to RMB 0.62 /W. The price range of the general mono-Si cell 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
Given that the module market has not yet recovered, the prices in major markets have not changed much this week. Due to China’s slow labor return speed and the delay of logistics and transportation, the supply of key supplementary materials continued to be the focus of the market’s attention. In addition, manufacturers in both China and other major markets have voiced their wishes to increase the module price.

In the overseas market, the price range of the 60-cell general multi-Si (275W-280W) remains unchanged at US$0.195~0.229 /W at the moment. The price range of the 72-cell high-efficiency multi-Si (325W-330W) remains unchanged at US$0.198~0.220 /W. The price range of the general mono-Si (305W-310W) remains unchanged at US$0.298~0.395 /W. The price range of the high-efficiency mono-Si (315W-320W) remains unchanged at US$0.229~0.340 /W. The price range of the superior-high efficiency mono-Si (>320W) remains unchanged at US$0.228~0.390 /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. 

(Analysis provided by Lions Shih, analysts at EnergyTrend. Translated by Emma Hsu, translator of TrendForce Corp.)

(Image by Jukka Niittymaa from Pixabay)