Solar cell exports via Ningbo Port grow steadily
- Details
- Category: Ningbo Business
- Published: Tuesday, 23 September 2014 08:43
"Just as everything has its ups and downs, the photovoltaic industry is now ushering in a full recovery after a hard 'winter'." said Chen Li with mixed feelings, who is in charge of a photovoltaic enterprise in Ningbo.
Statistics from Ningbo Customs show that in the first eight months of this year, Ningbo Port witnessed the a solar cell export volume of 10.92 million, with a total value of 5.24 billion yuan, both up by 75.4% over the same period of the previous year, increasing for the 12th consecutive month. Meanwhile, the exports of photovoltaic products from Ningbo enterprises have started a steady growth since January 2014.
As one of the major photovoltaic industrial bases in China, Ningbo boasts over 100 photovoltaic enterprises. "The photovoltaic industry was once considered the most profitable industry, as the overseas markets had a strong reliance on Chinese photovoltaic products for their low prices and decent quality. As a lot of photovoltaic products were exported from Ningbo, we saw more enterprises turned to the industry." In Chen Li's eyes, the downward trend for photovoltaic product export started from 2010. "That year, the US launched the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation, and many enterprises had to give up the US market. Then, the investigation started in the EU, leading to the 'winter' of the industry. The situation lasted for three years, and some enterprises are even forced out of the industry."
However, since the beginning of 2014, an increasing number of Ningbo enterprises have felt the picking up of the market. "After a round of elimination and integration, the photovoltaic industry will see a brighter future." said Wang Zhenjun, Deputy General Manager of Ningbo Sun-Earth Solar Power Co. Ltd. according to him, the beneficial domestic policies and the exploration of some emerging markets have given impetus to the recovery of the industry. "Now, about half of our products are for the domestic market, rather than the traditional European markets." said Wang. "The installing capacity for domestic PV market will reach 14GW, while that for Germany market was 7 to 8GW even in its prime time."
The recovery of the photovoltaic industry is also evident in the annual reports of listed companies. In the first half of this year, Ningbo EGING PV achieved a business income of 1.269 billion yuan, with a net profit of 103 million yuan, an increase of about 20 times. According to Risen Energy Co. Ltd., in the first half of this year, with the supportive policies and recovering domestic market, the PV industry is ushering in an agreeable environment for market expansion and enterprise integration.
