In the current year, the German photovoltaic equipment manufacturing industry is registering increasing orders from Asia (plus 168 percent) and America (plus 27 percent) compared to the results of the previous year. In contrast, incoming orders in Europe fell by 81 percent compared to the previous year. Sales are currently 29 percent higher than in the previous year.
Low first quarter of 2023
In comparison to the previous quarter the first quarter of 2023 recorded lower orders and sales than last quarter in 2022: Manufacturers had a 27 percent drop in sales compared to the previous quarter and a 26 percent drop in incoming orders.
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Dr. Peter Fath, Managing Director of RCT Solutions GmbH and Chairman of the Board of VDMA Photovoltaic Equipment, comments: "In the first quarter, the PV manufacturing equipment from the EU sales and orders decreased. The PV results align with the ones of the entire German machinery and equipment. Although the pandemic related shortages are reduced, they still exist. German PV equipment manufacturers are dealing with high material costs and energy prices. The reduction of these factors would improve the cost-competitiveness of made in Germany machinery and equipment in comparison to the competition. With the instigation of industrial policy measures in Europe to establish PV manufacturing of the entire value chain on the continent, we expect an increase of orders in the EU.”
Still interruptions in the supply of electronic components
There are still interruptions in the supply of electronic components, which lead to longer delivery times. The sale of components shows a higher share of sales compared to completely manufactured machines and systems. Products for the manufacturing of crystalline silicon cells have the highest share of sales of around 69 percent, followed by the thin film segment. Sales of products used in the manufacturing of polysilicon, ingots, and wafers remains low.
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The export quota is 89 percent, the highest sales market is Asia. Jutta Trube, Division Manager of VDMA Photovoltaic Equipment comments: “The Asian market is the largest for German photovoltaic equipment manufacturers. Despite the lower results in the first quarter of this year compared to the previous quarter, the branch expects stable and steady growth in the orders for the coming quarters, both in Asia and elsewhere.” (hcn)
