Coordinated wafer price increases and upstream supply discipline lead to a potential reset in China’s solar price chain. The country’s leading wafer makers have collectively raised wafer prices by about 12%, a move that market participants see as a test of whether the solar supply chain can reset prices after two years of oversupply-induced deflation.
According to multiple reports, Longi, TCL Zhonghuan, Gokin Solar and Shuangliang Silicon Materials increased their offers on regular n-type formats on the afternoon of December 25. Prices are now CNY 1.40 per piece for 183N wafers, CNY 1.50 for 210RN and CNY 1.70 for 210N.
The move comes as Chinese industry bodies and policymakers continue to implement “anti-involution” measures aimed at curbing loss-making competition and accelerating the outflow of capacity. Price signals are also starting to appear downstream.
InfoLink Consulting said that leading module brands recently increased module prices by CNY 0.02/W to CNY 0.04/W. Distributed generation deals in China typically close at around CNY0.68/W to CNY0.71/W, while utility-scale tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) module deliveries have largely been in the range of CNY0.64/W to CNY0.70/W.
Sinolink Securities renewable energy analyst Yao Yao forecast a more bullish price scenario for 2026, estimating integrated module prices at CNY0.88/W to CNY0.99/W if supply discipline continues and sales prices return to full cost recovery. This outlook implies polysilicon prices of CNY55,000 to CNY75,000 per tonne and a broader shift in the industry from survival to recovery of profitability.
The gap between current module price ranges and Sinolink’s 2026 offering suggests the market could accept a price increase of around 40%. Industry checks show that the rise in wafers is being supported by cost pressures and limited production. The crucial question is whether higher wafer and cell prices can be maintained through module contracts without price-sensitive utility projects pulling out.
For now, the coordinated increase in wafers is being interpreted as a sign that China’s photovoltaic supply chain is attempting a managed reset, potentially making 2026 the first year of meaningful module price increases rather than mere stabilization.
This content is copyrighted and may not be reused. If you would like to collaborate with us and reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
Popular content
