China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) reported in mid-August that China’s production capacity for rolled PV glass increased by 63.6% year on year for the period from January to July this year. As of the end this July, the number of rolled PV glass suppliers operating in the country came to 38, and the numbers of furnaces and production lines for rolled PV glass came to 110 and 352 respectively. Altogether, China’s nominal production capacity for rolled PV glass reached around 65,000 metric tons per day at the end of July. Out of the 110 furnaces, 93 were operating; and out of the 352 production lines, 315 were operating. Taking account of the furnaces and production lines that were actually in service, China’s operating production capacity for rolled PV glass reached around 60,000 metric tons per day.
As for China’s production of rolled PV glass during the first seven months of this year, the amount came to 8.212 million metric tons and translated to a year-on-year growth rate of 50.8%. The monthly production figure for July was 1.356 million tons, up 62.8% year on year. At the end of July, China’s inventory for rolled PV glass reached around 21 days, or three days more compared with the inventory level at the end of June.
The average price of 2mm and 3.2mm rolled PV glass in China for the period from January to July this year arrived at RMB 21 per square meter and RMB 27.2 per square meter respectively. The average price of 2mm rolled PV glass showed a year-on-year drop of 18.3% for the seven-month period. Likewise, the average price of 3.2mm rolled PV glass registered a year-on-year decline of 10.6% for the same period. Looking at the price trends in July, the average prices of 2mm and 3.2mm rolled PV glass arrived at RMB 21.4 per square meter and RMB 27.6 per square meter. For 2mm rolled PV glass, the year-on-year change was an increase of 18.6%, but the month-to-month change was a decline of 3.2%. Turning to 3.2mm rolled PV glass, the year-on-year change was a hike of 31.6%, whereas the month-to-month change was a drop of 2.8%.
MIIT made this report with the data from China Architectural and Industrial Glass Association.