The first quarter of each year is often the off-season of the photovoltaic industry, but in the first quarter of this year, the photovoltaic industry showed a high overall operating rate and no light off-season. What is the reason?
photovoltaic industry is not light in the off-season
Vajra line enterprises are busy catching up orders
Zhou Xiang’s enterprise, founded seven years ago, is currently the largest diamond wire manufacturer in the world. diamond wire is mainly used to cut photovoltaic silicon wafers. In recent two years, benefiting from the rapid growth of photovoltaic industry, diamond wire consumables are also popular according to Zhou Xiang, their enterprise is currently saturated with orders, and factory is in the state of 24-hour overtime production
Yangling Metron New Material Co.Ltd(300861) Secretary of the board of directors Zhou Xiang: orders in the first quarter were particularly saturated, with an increase of more than 80% compared with the orders in the first quarter of last year. Orders from customers were still relatively difficult to receive, and the production capacity was a little insufficient. The marketing department was urging the production department to increase production, and customers were also urging the marketing department to place orders.
Zhou Xiang told reporters that since the fourth quarter of last year, the demand for silicon wafer production restrained by the high price of silicon material is gradually released. Therefore, they are optimistic about the growth space of the photovoltaic industry this year. At present, the production and sales of diamond line are booming, and enterprises are also continuously recruiting and expanding production.
Yangling Metron New Material Co.Ltd(300861) Board Secretary Zhou Xiang: the first quarter of last year was the off-season of the whole photovoltaic industry, but this year, on the one hand, it may be based on the suppression of some demand in the fourth quarter of last year, and then gradually released after October. Coupled with the growth of photovoltaic chips, the demand for orders in the first quarter of this year was particularly hot, so it is necessary to continue to expand production.
According to the national power industry statistics from January to February released by the national energy administration, as of the end of February, the national installed power generation capacity was about 2.39 billion kw, a year-on-year increase of 7.8%. Among them, the installed capacity of Cecep Solar Energy Co.Ltd(000591) power generation was about 320 million KW, an increase of 22.7% year-on-year. According to insiders, China’s photovoltaic industry output continues to rise, adding to the higher demand for photovoltaic installation in the overseas market, the overall performance of the photovoltaic sector is expected to be better in the first quarter
silicon material price rises for 9 weeks
photovoltaic industry chain welcomes the rising price tide
The off-season of photovoltaic industry is not light. At the same time, the prices of related products in the industrial chain also rise.
Since March, after the two silicon chip leaders in central and Longji successively announced the increase of silicon chip quotation, on March 8, Tongwei, the battery leader, also announced the increase of cell chip quotation of various sizes , the data showed that the cell quotation of 182mm and 210mm increased by 0.01 yuan / W and 0.02 yuan / W respectively. Analysts believe that the increase of photovoltaic product price is mainly due to the high price of upstream silicon material
Longi Green Energy Technology Co.Ltd(601012) chairman Zhong Baoshen: we probably know the cost of polysilicon. As a standard industrial product, we all know its reasonable profit value. After its profit is too high, the enterprise will actively expand production to meet the market demand. The price will always be in a downward trend this year, but it is still at a relatively high level.
According to the data of China photovoltaic Association, the silicon material increased by 224% in 2021. Although it decreased at the end of the year, it still increased by 177% compared with the beginning of the year since this year, the price of silicon material has continued to rise under the high demand march 16, the silicon branch of China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association announced the latest silicon material price. The average transaction price of rose for 9 consecutive weeks, with the latest increase of about 0.5%. Insiders believe that the expansion of silicon material production has accelerated, but it is still in the climbing period of new production capacity, and the overall supply shortage may be alleviated in the second half of the year
Zhang Han, power equipment analyst of Huaxin Securities: at current time point, silicon material is still the most scarce link in the industrial chain. With the production and climbing of some production capacity, the price of silicon material will gradually decline in the middle of the year, which will drive the reduction of the cost of the industrial chain. The price of components is expected to gradually drop from more than 1.9 yuan per watt to less than 1.8 yuan per watt, further stimulating the demand for laser installation.
Not only silicon materials, silicon wafers and battery chips, but also other links of the photovoltaic industry chain are also raising prices. Baichuan information data show that last week, China’s EVA photovoltaic material quoted 23400 yuan / ton, with an increase of more than 20% in the year, including an increase of more than 17% since March.
