Chinese volatile market drives solar PV downturn in 2013: Report

Solar PV demand in the first quarter of 2013 dipped due to the volatile market in China. The rest of the world, though, saw more stable growth - according to Solarbuzz.

Chart 1: Phases of PV demand from China, Europe and Rest-of-the-World. Source: Solarbuzz

“Chinese solar PV demand was the key global driver at the end of 2012, which helped to deplete upstream inventory levels that had accumulated over previous quarters. However, extreme swings in PV demand from China over the next year will make capacity utilization and inventory control particularly challenging.”
- Michael Barker, senior analyst at NPD Solarbuzz

The report says that, over the next four quarters:

• China will account for more than 20% of global PV market demand, i.e. 0.9GW to 3.6GW.


• Germany, Italy, France, and the UK will lead solar PV demand in Europe, accounting for over 65% of regional demand.


• Demand from European end-markets is expected to range from 2.7GW - 3.2GW


• New demand from the emerging PV markets, such as the Middle East and Southeast Asia (ROW)  demand will range from 2.5GW - 3.6 GW each quarter.


• The Japanese market is strongest during the first half of the year.


• The U.S. market is strongest during the second half.

TheGreenMechanics: Not a totally bleak year for the solar PV industry as some have predicted last year. China will come good eventually.


For your reading pleasure, jump to Solarbuzz Quarterly report.