Taiwan-based makers have hiked quotes for high energy conversion rate solar-grade wafers to about US$1 per wafer due to tight supplies, according to industry sources.
Prices for a high-efficiency solar-grade crystalline silicon wafer stood at US$0.93-0.95 in November 2013 and US$0.96 in December and are expected to further rise to US$1.05 in February 2014, the sources indicated. For orders asking for urgent shipments, some Taiwan-based makers have quoted US$1.06-1.07, the sources noted. However, prices for low-efficiency models with energy conversion rates of below 17.2% have remained at US$0.9, the sources said.
The short supply is mainly because China-based wafer makers have decreased shipments to Taiwan-based solar cell makers due to fast growing domestic demand, the sources said. In addition to Taiwan-based solar cell makers, China-based makers have placed orders with Taiwan-based makers of high-efficiency wafers, the sources indicated.