Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2026-01-16 02:56Core Viewpoint - The surge in silver prices is exacerbating the financial struggles of solar panel manufacturers, who are facing intensified competition and ongoing losses. The industry is implementing a dual strategy to cope with rising costs: increasing product prices and accelerating the transition to cheaper materials like copper to replace silver [1][4]. Group 1: Industry Challenges - Solar panel manufacturers are experiencing significant cost pressures due to soaring silver prices, which have tripled over the past year, reaching over $93 per ounce [1][4]. - The use of silver in solar cells now accounts for 29% of the total component cost, a sharp increase from 3.4% in 2023 and 14% last year [1]. - Major solar companies, including Trina Solar, have warned of expected net losses through 2025, indicating that the industry downturn has not yet reached its lowest point despite efforts to curb overcapacity and price wars [4]. Group 2: Price Adjustments and Market Response - In response to rising silver prices, Chinese component manufacturers have raised prices to over 0.8 yuan per watt, reflecting a 1.4% to 3.8% increase from the previous week, resulting in typical 500-watt component prices around 400 yuan ($57) [4]. - The silver market is experiencing a record streak, with prices around $91 per ounce, potentially marking the longest consecutive monthly increase since records began in 1950 [4]. Group 3: Material Substitution Efforts - Manufacturers are actively working to reduce silver paste usage in solar cells to lower costs, with projections indicating an average usage of 8.96 milligrams per watt by 2025, down from 11.2 milligrams in 2024 [5]. - Longi Green Energy has announced plans to begin replacing silver with cheaper metals in their solar cells [5]. - The solar industry accounted for approximately 17% of total silver demand last year, a significant increase from a decade ago, but a slowdown in consumption could threaten the long-term price increase of silver [5][6].