In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.
Free-On-Board (FOB) China M10, 210R, and G12 wafer prices remained stable at $0.138/pc, $0.147/pc, and $0.169/pc, respectively, unchanged from the previous week, according to the OPIS Global Solar Markets Report released on June 13.
Wafer market fundamentals continue to mirror those of the polysilicon sector, with bearish sentiment, weak demand, and ongoing inventory accumulation remaining the dominant themes, according to market participants. Based on manufacturers’ production schedules, industry sources estimate wafer output reached nearly 50 GW in May and could increase further to approximately 55 GW in June.
A market participant noted that the increase in production is primarily being driven by vertically integrated manufacturers and major specialized wafer producers. Leading first-tier wafer makers are generally maintaining utilization rates below 50%, while financially weaker specialized manufacturers are operating at extremely low levels. Market reports have also emerged suggesting that some producers have begun selling portions of their ingot-pulling equipment as part of efforts to address financial pressures.
