Qi Huo Ri Bao·2026-01-11 00:14Core Viewpoint - The recent announcement by the Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration regarding the adjustment of export tax rebate policies for photovoltaic and other products reflects the optimization and transformation of the country's support for the new energy industry, which will further promote high-quality development in the photovoltaic and lithium battery sectors [1] Photovoltaic Industry - The announcement states that from April 1, 2026, the value-added tax export rebate for photovoltaic products will be completely canceled, marking the first comprehensive cancellation since the industry was included in the export rebate policy in October 2013 [2] - The export rebate policy for the photovoltaic industry began in October 2013, allowing companies to enjoy a rebate rate of up to 50%. However, due to increasing competition, the rebate policy has been gradually optimized, with a previous reduction from 13% to 9% announced on November 15, 2024 [2] - The China Photovoltaic Industry Association noted that since 2024, the industry has faced fierce competition in overseas markets, leading to a "volume increase and price decrease" trend, where some companies engaged in low-price competition, effectively turning the export rebate into a subsidy for foreign buyers [2] - The cancellation of the export rebate is seen as a policy to promote high-quality development in the industry, with the adjustment expected to help stabilize export prices and reduce the risk of trade frictions [3] - The industry has begun to show signs of improvement, with upstream prices recovering to reasonable levels and downstream prices trending upward [3] Lithium Battery Industry - The announcement also includes a phased reduction in the export rebate for battery products, decreasing from 9% to 6% from April 1, 2026, and completely canceling it by January 1, 2027 [5] - The adjustment aims to guide the battery industry away from pure scale expansion and alleviate the pressure of homogenized competition, encouraging companies to enhance product technology and value [5] - Major battery exporters include companies like CATL and Guoxuan High-Tech, with CATL reporting a gross margin of 23% for domestic business and 29% for overseas business in the first quarter of 2025 [5] Short-term Market Dynamics - There is an expectation of a "rush to export" phenomenon in the short term as companies accelerate production and order fulfillment before the policy takes effect, potentially leading to a spike in export data [6] - The demand for lithium carbonate may see a short-term boost due to increased battery orders before the rebate cancellation, although the long-term impact may suppress demand due to increased costs [6] - Current inventory levels for lithium carbonate are rising, with a reported weekly inventory of approximately 110,000 tons as of January 8, indicating a shift towards marginal accumulation [6]