“As the world’s largest solar companies Trina Solar, Jinko Solar and Canadian Solar are no longer part of the Price Undertaking, the MIP-framework is totally crumbling down”, Vermeersch says. Moreover, JA Solar would be rumoured to soon quit from the undertaking as well.
Price level of duty-free factories in SE Asia determinant
According to Vermeersch in 2015 the prices of most brands, Asian or European, were situated around the MIP. During 2016 more capacity of Chinese Tier 1 players became available outside China: Vietnam, Thailand and Turkey. “The MIP is therefore no longer decisive for price setting of Chinese and non-Chinese suppliers in Europe. Now the price level of the duty-free factories in South-East-Asia is determinant“, Vermeersch stresses.
EU ruling until latest march 2017
The EU Commission is currently in the process of investigating the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties for Chinese panels and cells through expiry reviews and an interim review. Th outcome of the trade case is expected between October 16 and latest March 4, 2017.
Price Undertaking only for modules?
The EU Commission only has following options according to Veermersch :To end the duties and undertakings and to stop the investigations or to maintain the duties and undertaking for a further period of maximum five years. “If it decides to maintain the duties and undertakings, the Commission will not be able to amend them other than possibly excluding cells. So in that case the duties and undertaking would only apply to panels”, Vermeersch says.
Whole saler and service provider Cleantec Trade is based in Flanders/Belgium and Hong Kong. The company operates a central warehouse for Asian solar panels in Rotterdam/Netherlands with a focus on imports to Benelux. (HCN)
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