China’s Top Solar Firms Post Big Losses as Oversupply Persists

(Bloomberg) -- China’s top solar manufacturers posted big losses in the third quarter as severe overcapacity and price wars continue to hurt the companies producing equipment critical to global energy transition. 

Leading panel-maker Longi Green Energy Technology Co. chalked up its fourth straight quarterly net loss of 1.26 billion yuan ($177 million), after recording a profit of 2.5 billion yuan in the same period last year. Rivals Tongwei Co. and Trina Solar Co. also swung to losses, while JA Solar Technology Co. saw net income plunge and Jinko Solar Co. barely turned a profit.

Longi blamed a persistent mismatch between supply and demand, which has led to a significant drop in product prices, according to its statement. The company has cut output to ease losses.

China’s world-dominating solar firms have been forced to sell below cost after a breakneck buildup in capacity to feed China’s renewables boom. Companies are undercutting each other to maintain market share, and most are expected to report losses this year, BloombergNEF said in a report earlier this month. Consolidation has already seen some smaller players going bankrupt or being bought by larger outfits.

The sharpened focus on the health of a sector deemed increasingly central to China’s economy could hasten measures to improve profitability. Solar-making shares surged last week on hopes that the government will step in with restrictions on production, although some analysts remained unconvinced.

China’s main solar industry association earlier this month called for rational pricing and urged companies to be more disciplined in bidding for projects. Over the summer, it said struggling manufacturers should exit the market as soon as possible.

The increased scrutiny could help eliminate capacity and accelerate consolidation, Jinko’s chairman, Li Xiande, said on an earnings call on Wednesday. 

“We believe that, with enhanced supervision by related departments, domestic prices will eventually return to reasonable levels,” Li said. 

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This Week’s Diary

(All times Beijing unless noted.)

Thursday, Oct. 31:

• China official PMIs for October, 09:30
• UBS holds online briefing on Chinese commodities including gold, 10:30
• PetroChina briefs on earnings for mainland investors, 16:00
• Shiptec China exhibition in Dalian, day 2
• China Intl Nickel-Cobalt Industry Summit in Nancang, Jiangxi, day 3

Friday, Nov. 1:

• Caixin’s China factory PMI for October, 09:45
• China’s weekly iron ore port stockpiles
• Shanghai exchange weekly commodities inventory, ~15:00
• Chinese govt depts brief on climate change in Beijing, 15:00
• Shenhua earnings briefing at 16:00
• Shiptec China exhibition in Dalian, day 3

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