Market Analysis December 2015 - It could have been much easier ...

As the year draws to a close, there has been little movement in module prices. A slight bottleneck in polycrystalline standard modules noted in November failed to lift prices, counteracted by the usual stock clearance sales in December.

Overall, prices across nearly every region of origin have ended up at the level they started 2015. At the same time, feed-in tariffs – at least in Germany – came down considerably over the same period. Degression was not halted until October when the so-called breathing cap began to take effect. Accordingly, the monthly installation figures in Germany remained below the 100 MW mark.

And now it is official: import restrictions on Chinese cells and modules will not be lifted anytime soon. The EU Commission has finally taken up a protracted review process for anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures, which will likely result in a price freeze for a further 12-15 months. As expected, the EU Prosun association requested this expiry review, forcing the commissioners to initiate the process. Only a veto from policy makers could have prevented this procedure, but it never came.

Had the protective tariffs, and thus the minimum prices and quantity limitations specified in the Undertaking been laid to rest on December 7, life would have been much easier, at least for the vast majority of players within the European PV industry. The time-consuming review of certificates of origin of all the products imported into the EU and the associated delays would not have been necessary. Faster processing of all imports and reliable delivery data on delivered quantities and arrival dates would in turn increase planning security.

Although the expected module prices in the lower 40-euro cent range would put European manufacturers under pressure, SolarWorld and its associates demonstrated in mid-2015 that they can keep pace with prices under 50 euro cents. Not long ago, pv magazine raised the question of whether modules for projects could be produced for 41 to 45 cents without subsidies. Outside the EU, and other regulated markets, Asian modules from leading manufacturers have already been easily available at these prices for some time. Overall, a significant market recovery would be the result, particularly in the industrial and large-scale project segment. Dealers and installers could once again achieve satisfactory margins with solar panels, which is nearly impossible at present.

Unfortunately, we have missed the boat on this opportunity. As such, we can look forward to another year of sideways cell and module prices linked to the minimum import prices of Chinese products. For many Chinese manufacturers, the undertaking has proved more a burden than an opportunity, however, especially where larger production capacities outside of China had already been developed. Distrust and constant monitoring by the EU Commission have also complicated the sale of non-Chinese products in the EU. Recently Trina Solar has bid farewell to the Undertaking, and other manufacturers are sure to follow. Since Chinese products can no longer be sold here anyway, their producers are not bothered by the punitive tariffs. Guarantees of origin have to be provided already for non-EU products entering the EU anyway.

The question remains whether under the current circumstances all of the German projects awarded in public tenders can actually be implemented. Many companies certainly speculated on the elimination of minimum import prices at the end of the year when they submitted their bids. But with the unchanged price level expected in 2016, some large-scale plants will likely be uneconomical, unless SolarWorld jumps into the breach with prices, a move sure to spark talk of dumping.

Last but not least, what follows is an overview of new price points introduced last month, including changes:

(The prices shown indicate the average offer prices for duty-paid goods in the European spot market in the month of November 2015 again.)