47% Price hike on Solar Panels...

[rustybarge]

According to Newsnight last night, the EU is about to slap a 47% import tax on Chinese manufactured Solar cells, in order to protect the competitiveness of German solar panel industry.

Where did I put that Ebay link for those cheapo Chinese imports.......

 

[sailorman]

According to Newsnight last night, the EU is about to slap a 47% import tax on Chinese manufactured Solar cells, in order to protect the competitiveness of German solar panel industry.

Where did I put that Ebay link for those cheapo Chinese imports.......

One large manufacturer Suntec i believe, went bust a short time ago.
my units are Panasonic made in Germany

 

[rustybarge]

One large manufacturer Suntec i believe, went bust a short time ago.
my units are Panasonic made in Germany

Apparently the Chinese government have been subsidising manufactures to such an extent that the solar panels are being sold at less than the cost price.

Why on earth would they do that?

 

[winsbury]

Apparently the Chinese government have been subsidising manufactures to such an extent that the solar panels are being sold at less than the cost price.

Why on earth would they do that?

To drive the competition out of the market so they can then raise their prices and yet gain a dominant market share - a common big business tactic.

 

[maby]

high time we indulged in a bit of protectionism - good for the EU (never thought I would write that )!

 

[Tranona]

According to Newsnight last night, the EU is about to slap a 47% import tax on Chinese manufactured Solar cells, in order to protect the competitiveness of German solar panel industry.

Where did I put that Ebay link for those cheapo Chinese imports.......

Expect there is an import duty already, so the extra cost will be less than 47% on landed cost. As landed cost is likely to be only around 30-40% retail price, the actual increase, if the whole extra duty is passed on is likely to be between 15 and 20%. However, importers may decide to absorb the increase (or some of it) and accept a lower profit margin to maintain their sales volume.

As already suggested such actions are common to deal with dumping of goods at lower than cost and protecting local manufacturers from unfair competition. Rarely successful in the long run given the inevitable shift of production to lower cost environments.

 

[FullCircle]

Suntech of China went bust on March 19th.

Suntech, one of the world's biggest solar panel manufacturers, has defaulted on a $541m (£358m) bond payment in the latest sign of the financial squeeze on the struggling global solar industry.

So, perhaps the inscrutabel Chinese not quite as protectionist as previously assumed?

It is true that Chinese manufacturers are losing up to $0.56 per watt on panlels, but continue to knock them out.


Buy now and stack them high.

Also note the new coating being developed which will increase efficiency to 36% in the next 5 years up from 21% ish now.

 

[gjgm]

Suntech of China went bust on March 19th.

Suntech, one of the world's biggest solar panel manufacturers, has defaulted on a $541m (£358m) bond payment in the latest sign of the financial squeeze on the struggling global solar industry.

So, perhaps the inscrutabel Chinese not quite as protectionist as previously assumed?

It is true that Chinese manufacturers are losing up to $0.56 per watt on panlels, but continue to knock them out.


Buy now and stack them high.

Also note the new coating being developed which will increase efficiency to 36% in the next 5 years up from 21% ish now.

Well, lets not forget to balance the Chinese bashing by remembering how many defunct car manufacturers are being propped up in Europe.

 

[Cardo]

Glad we bought our cheapo Chinese panels when we did!

 

[davidwf]

My house panels are Sharp made in Wales, I went for them because they were made in the UK and cost difference was marginal.

 

[nigelmercier]

Suntech of China went bust on March 19th...

I'm not surprised. I had a pair of their panels, they were pants. The plastic degraded in 3 months, at first the supplier implied they should not be left outside!