Sales of German production equipment for PV sector halve in H1 2013

Oct 7, 2013 - German industry sales of components, machines and systems for the photovoltaic (PV) sector almost halved in the first six months of 2013, compared with the first half of last year, due to overcapacity, price pressure and trade conflicts, German engineering association VDMA said at a sector event last week.

The association presented the figures at the European solar energy conference EU PVSEC in Paris.

Sales remain export-driven with some 90% generated abroad in the first half of the year. The Asian market accounted for 74% of the exports, with most of the PV equipment sales made in China and Taiwan.

Germany still holds holds 42% of the global PV equipment market but manufacturers need to reduce their production costs in order to be competitive, said the managing director of VDMA Photovoltaic Equipment, Florian Wessendorf.

Order intake also declined in the first half of 2013 but a turnaround is expected in 2014. Significant orders came mainly from the Far East and the USA, making up 66% and 22% of the intake, respectively. Less than 7% of the orders came from the domestic market and 4% from other European countries, VDMA said.

The European Union (EU) and China have settled their dispute over import duties on Chinese solar panels and components in late July but it will take time until this is reflected in the sales and orders for the German industry, board chairman of VDMA Photovoltaic Equipment, Peter Fath, noted.

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