Taiwan-based research firm, EnergyTrend, has said that Taiwan-based solar cell producers shipped 3.2GW of cells in the first half of 2013 on the back of anti-dumping duties against China in the US and EU.
According to EnergyTrend, 16% of the worldwide solar cell shipments in the first half of 2013 came from Taiwanese producers, with Motech, Gintech and Neo Solar Power (NSP) representing 65% of Taiwan’s total shipment quantity.
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EnergyTrend said that China had been the key destination for Taiwanese made solar cells, accounting for 40% of shipments. However, Europe accounted for 17% of shipments as several mid-sized PV module manufacturers in Europe depend on Taiwanese cells, having stopped cell production in recent years.
The US was said to account for 6% of shipments, while Japan accounted for 12%. Solar cells were also shipped to South Korea, accounting for 4% of shipments.
EnergyTrend said that Taiwanese solar cell producers benefited from the anti-dumping duties but also from the higher cell efficiencies they offer compared to their Chinese competitors as well as offering PID-free products.
However, should the EU impose the full planned duties of Chinese-made PV products in August, the likelihood that tier one Chinese module manufacturers will establish manufacturing operations in Taiwan is expected to increase, reducing dependence on Taiwanese cell producers in the longer term.
Hareon Solar has just announced it would build a 300MW solar cell manufacturing facility in Taiwan. It is also planning to tap polysilicon produced at Taiwan-based start-up, Sun Mass Energy, once the facility is ramped.