Solar wafer prices rise again amidst COVID supply chain disruption

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Cell production at a LONGi facility. Image: LONGi.

LONGi Solar has raised prices for its 182mm wafers once again as upstream costs continue to edge upwards this week, exacerbated by constraints caused by COVID-19-related lockdowns in China.

In a price note issued earlier this week, LONGi raised its price quote for its M10 wafers to RMB6.82 (US$0.949) per piece, an increase of 1.8% on the previous price issued on 25 March.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

It’s the sixth time 182mm wafer prices have been increased so far this year.

LONGi’s price revision comes amidst continuing pressure on the solar value chain, with average prices for polysilicon and wafers also increasing this week. Pricing data provided by PVInfoLink and EnergyTrend suggest average wholesale prices for polysilicon reached around RMB249/kg (inclusive of China’s 20% sales tax) this week, while wafer prices also edged upwards.

Reports in China suggest the transport of polysilicon from Xinjiang has been disrupted by local lockdowns, prompting wafering facilities to reduce utilisation rates and shutter in some instances.

It follows a surge in COVID-19 cases in China and the lockdown of major cities Shanghai and Ningbo, the location of two major ports which account for the significant majority of solar shipments. Road freight in the country is also said to be severely disrupted.

20 April 2027
Istanbul, Türkiye
PV Tech has been running PV CellTech Conferences since 2016. PV CellTech Global, on 20-21 April 2027, is the meeting place for everyone invested in the growth of PV manufacturing and advancement in cell technologies, which will drive us towards the installed capacity required to power the planet by 2050. This is a gathering of key stakeholders driving capital expenditure and technologies for new PV manufacturing plants across the globe to harness the opportunities the growth of PV represents out to 2050 and beyond. The conference takes place in one conference room, where all senior peers have the same shared experience of learning and unique insight, unmatched anywhere else in the solar industry events calendar.

Read Next

September 15, 2026
Two community solar platforms in the US have closed over US$370 million of financing to fund 200MW of new projects in New York and Illinois.
Premium
September 15, 2026
DYCM’s co-founder Sriram Das talks about US solar manufacturing, domestic supply chains and navigating shifting policy.
September 15, 2026
Brazil has installed 891MW of utility-scale solar PV in August 2026, according to recent data from the country’s regulatory agency, the National Electricity Agency (ANEEL).
September 15, 2026
Guidance on China’s new national PV standards details how the regulatory environment is set to tighten for the country’s PV manufacturers.
September 15, 2026
The next phase of growth in India's solar industry depends on understanding gaps across the wider manufacturing ecosystem.
September 14, 2026
The US Department of Commerce (DoC) has finalised antidumping and countervailing duty rates on crystalline silicon PV cells imported from India, Indonesia and Laos, with combined rates reaching 249.13% for Indian manufacturers.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 13, 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Solar Media Events
November 3, 2026
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
November 24, 2026
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
February 2, 2027
London, UK