Based on a new report from consultancy IHS, the top 10 PV module suppliers slightly increased their market share from last year, jumping from 48% in 2013 to 49% in 2014.
Chinese-based suppliers continue to lead the market, with seven of the top 10 module suppliers hailing from China.
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Jessica Jin, solar supply-chain analyst for IHS, said: “Chinese module makers continue to lead IHS rankings, because China is the largest global market, and it is closed to foreign suppliers. Chinese suppliers also performed well in Japan, the United States and other markets worldwide.”
While the same 10 companies listed on IHS’ 2013 report are back in this release, the ordering has switched, with Trina Solar taking the top spot in the supplier list after witnessing a 30% unit-shipment increase and 17% gross margin. Trina’s rise goes along with PV-Tech’s report from November 2014 that the company managed to outgain now-No. 2 supplier Yingli Green last year.
Hanwha Q CELLS also witnessed a big jump, rising from the 10th spot to No. 6 on the 2014 list.
The rankings, in order from No. 1 to No. 10, are as follows: Trina Solar, Yingli Green, Canadian Solar, Hanwha SolarOne, Jinko Solar, JA Solar, Sharp, ReneSola, First Solar and Kyocera.
IHS predicts that the global PV industry will grow by 30%, reaching 57GW this year. Global utilisation is also expected to rise from 61% in 2014 to 69% in 2015.
Jin added: “Top PV module manufacturers continue to expand this year. JA Solar has announced a 20 percent increase in module capacity in China this year, while Trina Solar will add 1 GW of module capacity.”
