While there is no shortage of leading indicators in the PV industry that can be used to predict future trends in manufacturing and across the various companies involved in this space, one of the most pertinent ones relates to capital expenditure (or capex).
Taiwan-based multicrystalline wafer producer Green Energy Technology (GET) has said had terminated a sub-contracting wafer supply deal with another Taiwan-based wafer producer, Eversol Corporation
Bankrupt renewables firm SunEdison has finally got the green light to proceed with the US$150 million sale of its FBR (Fluidised Bed Reactor) technology polysilicon assets to GCL-Poly Energy Holding after a deal was struck with company spinoff SunEdison Semiconductor.
Specialist polysilicon market research firm, Bernreuter Research has warned of continued overcapacity that will force pricing down below many producers' cash cost levels and threatens the existence of high-cost producers in 2018.
Leading polysilicon and wafer producer GCL-Poly reported a 15% cut in production of polysilicon in the third quarter of 2016, compared to the prior year period, due to weak China end-market demand.
China-based polysilicon and wafer producer Daqo New Energy reported third quarter 2016 financial results that characterised the abrupt demand slowdown from PV manufacturers at the beginning of the quarter but cited a strong rebound in demand since October.
‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member, JA Solar has agreed to settle a long-term ‘take or pay’ contract for the purchase of polysilicon from US-based polysilicon producer Hemlock Semiconductor.
Major polysilicon producer Wacker Chemie has reported that polysilicon sales declined 6.8% in the third quarter of 2016, due to weaker demand and ASP declines, specifically in September.
Former China-based integrated PV manufacturer LDK Solar, which entered liquidation proceedings in the Cayman Islands and bankruptcy in mainland China has resulted in major creditor losses and its wafer and cell production operations being acquired.
PV and polysilicon manufacturing equipment specialist centrotherm photovoltaics has withdrawn its earnings forecast for fiscal year 2016, due to PV manufacturers postponing capital expenditure (capex) plans on overcapacity and rapid price declines.
