Sales of German photovoltaic equipment suppliers increased by 117 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to the third quarter of the past year. But the market for solar equipment has calmed down further towards the end of 2017 after the start of the year was characterized by strong investments, according to German Machinery and Plant Engineering Association (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau, VDMA). »The so far high investment activity of the solar cell manufacturers in the expansion of existing and new production capacities is decreasing. We also observe a reduction in equipment prices. New orders came increasingly from PERC and Black Silicon equipment of the crystalline Silicon as well as from the thin film technology sector,« says Peter Fath, Chairman of VDMA Photovoltaic Equipment.

The export ratio of German photovoltaic equipment suppliers reached the record level of 93 percent between October and December. The core business continued to be in east Asia, the share of total turnover originating from there amounted to 72 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017. Asia’s sales were as follows: the largest share was made with China (62 percent), followed by Taiwan (1 percent) as well as India (1 percent). The rest of Asia recorded 8 percent. America remained second behind Asia with a sales volume of 18 percent while Germany accounted 7 percent of sales. Europe achieved only 5 percent of sales. The strongest sales segment in the fourth quarter 2017 for German PV manufacturers was the production solutions for thin-film PV (53 percent), followed by production equipment for cells (44 percent). Machinery for polysilicon, Ingot and wafer production accounted for 3 percent of sales.

Order intake declined strongly by 41 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to the third quarter, however, compared to the previous year still increased by 9 percent. But the order books »are still filled«, and the future expansion plans of the PV industry in China »give reason to hope for continuous contract awards in the coming years,« says Jutta Trube, Division Manager of VDMA Photovoltaic Equipment.