German solar equipment market signals recovery in Q1 2014 - survey

Apr 14, 2014 - The majority of German photovoltaic (PV) equipment manufacturers, some 90%, registered rising orders in the first three months of 2014, compared with the prior-year period, signalling a market recovery after the difficult 2013, German engineering industry association VDMA said today.

According to VDMA's business climate survey, the German manufacturers of components, machines and systems for the PV industry expect sales in the current year to increase by around 30%.

The improvement is attributable to a positive market sentiment and the global increase in demand for photovoltaics, VDMA said. Most major PV producers currently plan to increase their production capacity and to expand their presence on the emerging markets, the association added.

In 2013 the German PV engineering market shrank by 45% year-on-year, due to overcapacity, trade disputes and price pressure.

Germany holds more than a 50% share on the global PV equipment market.

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