Global PV module shipments expected to rebound strongly 23GW over the year

According to the latest research report from research firm IMS Research, global PV cell module shipments are expected to rebound strongly in the second half of 2011, and declining component prices are the key factors for demand recovery in the second half of the year; annual PV module shipments are expected to exceed 23 GW.

The agency issued a press release citing its report saying that the German market is expected to re-emerge from the third quarter, and that global PV module shipments in the third and fourth quarters will increase by an average of 30% from the previous quarter, mainly due to the rapid growth of Germany and other markets. stimulate.

"The strong growth in module shipments will stabilize prices in the second half of this year and will help to consume the inventory that has been at historically high levels since the first half of the year. It is expected that by the end of this year, channel inventory will return to a more sustainable level. (About one quarter of production), said IMS Research.

In the first half of the year, due to the downgrade of installed subsidy in the major European PV market and the uncertainties faced by adjustments, component prices have rapidly declined, and some customers have delayed projects for waiting to purchase cheaper components, further worsening the demand situation.

The press release also stated that the development of the situation in the first half of 2011 created an excellent opportunity for the market to rebound strongly in the second half of the year. Due to the lack of installed capacity, the possibility of reducing grid-connected electricity price subsidies in Germany in the middle of the year is already very small.

Sam Wilkinson, a senior analyst with the IMS PV market, pointed out that after two years of rapid development, the market has seen softer demand and higher prices. After this round of sharp price reductions, coupled with Germany's no-lower tariff cuts, it will make PV investment attractive again.

Gao Jifan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Trina Solar (TSL.N), China’s largest photovoltaic cell manufacturer, based on market capitalization, had predicted that European PV demand will pick up in the second half of the year and global demand is expected to increase by about a quarter year-on-year to this year. About 20GW.

According to iSupply, a world-renowned IT consultancy, the global demand for photovoltaics last year was 15.7GW, which was double the previous year. China is the largest producer of photovoltaic cells and modules in the world, accounting for half of the global PV market. Domestic Suntech (STP.N), JA (O.O.), Yingli (YGE.N.) and Changzhou Tianhe and the United States First Solar ( Last year, shipments exceeded 1GW.