Sixty-Seven Percent of China Solar Panel Manufacturers Plan to Raise Prices in 2007

HONG KONG, Feb. 8 Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall

Sixty-seven percent of China's solar panel manufacturers plan to raise export prices in 2007, according to Global Sources' China Sourcing Report.

"Solar cell prices, which have increased by about US$0.30 per watt in the past two years, are expected to rise further, driving the cost of solar panels higher," said Global Sources general manager of Content Development, Michael Kleist.

"With margins at about five percent for many manufacturers, the market is expected to continue to be challenging in the months ahead."

Among surveyed solar panel manufacturers' top concerns and primary challenges for the next 12 months:

-- 56 percent cited higher raw material costs;
-- 20 percent said price competition;
-- 14 percent cited design copying/piracy; and
-- 10 percent said power and labor shortages.