On December 13, Jason TASI, the chief analyst at Solarzoom, a leading domestic solar market research firm, spoke in Shanghai, highlighting that despite the struggles faced by many PV companies, global solar photovoltaic (PV) installations continued to expand in 2013. He predicted that the total new installed capacity for the year would rise by between 26% and 41%, reaching an estimated 30GW globally.
Solarzoom's assessment of 2012's global PV installations showed that the total reached 30GW, with Germany, China, and the United States ranking as the top three countries in terms of capacity. Italy followed in fourth place, having previously held around 60% of the global market. However, both the German and Italian markets experienced slower growth, yet they still accounted for over 40% of the global market in 2013.
According to the data, Germany contributed 26% of the global installed capacity, Italy 10%, the U.S. 13%, China 16%, and Japan 7%. Solarzoom noted that the U.S. market underperformed expectations, while Eastern Europe and India saw steady growth, slightly exceeding forecasts. Meanwhile, China’s market was stronger than anticipated, with an installed capacity of 4.5 to 4.8GW.
Looking ahead at the domestic PV manufacturing industry in 2013, Jason TASI pointed out that after a year of losses and production halts, companies lacking sufficient cash flow would likely shut down operations and face debt collection from banks. He expected the market to reach its peak in the first quarter of 2013, with clearer signs of recovery in the second quarter. As production capacity continues to shrink, the industry is approaching a turning point.
TASI also emphasized that price cuts had gradually eroded profit margins. "In 2011, price cuts reduced profits; in 2012, they cut gross margins; but by 2013, further price reductions can only be sustained through cost reductions driven by technological advancements, which means the pace of price cuts will slow down," he said.
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