Flash | 07 Jan 2026 03:59:11 ET │ 12 pages China Solar Power Solar Product Prices Largely Steady This Week amid Soft Demand; We Assume PRC Solar Installations to -24% YoY in 2026E CITI'S TAKE Weekly solar product prices have increased 1-2% wow for upstream polysilicon materials and downstream solar modules this week, likely supported by anti-involution measures, while prices declined 1% for solar cells. PRC annual module output was -1.2% yoy to 563.2GW in 2025, according to SMM, affected by the absence of y ...

29 December 2025 | 11:03AM CST Equity Research CHINA SOLAR: TRACKING PROFITABILITY INFLECTION Dec-25: Increasingly wait-and-see stance with a new round of price hike proposed Our China Solar Profitability Tracker follows monthly supply/demand and inventory dynamics by sub-sector, and the spot prices/input costs implied cash GP & EBITDA margin trends for companies under our coverage. Key highlights in Dec MTD: Goldman Sachs does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a re ...

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:Homerun Resources has signed a 99-year surface rights agreement, automatically renewable for another 99 years, covering 64 hectares at Fazenda São José, Santa Maria Eterna, Bahia, Brazil, for its industrial projects.Homerun can use the surface rights as collateral in project financing, independently secure permits and licenses, and is protected against changes in land ownership.This agreement replaces the previous municipal land donation process, removing risk of land reclamation and obligat ...

Summary of Key Points from Conference Call Industry Overview Basic Materials - China - **Copper Prices**: LME copper rose 1.5% WoW to US$10,856/t, while the China price increased 1.3% WoW to RMB87,200/t [1][31] - **Aluminum Prices**: LME aluminum slipped 0.2% WoW to US$2,830/t, while the China aluminum price increased 1.7% WoW to RMB21,910/t. Domestic aluminum margins improved by RMB395/t WoW to RMB6,094/t due to lower power costs [1][31][52] - **Gold Prices**: COMEX gold climbed 2% WoW to US$4,084/oz [1][11] - **Lithium Prices**: Average price of domestic battery-grade lithium carbonate (99.5%) rose 5.9% WoW to RMB85.2k/t [1][55] - **Uranium Prices**: Uranium U₃O₈ spot prices settled at US$77.7/lb, down 2.7% WoW [1][57] - **Cobalt Prices**: China cobalt spot price edged up 1% WoW to RMB395,000/t [1][63] Steel Industry - **Finished Steel Prices**: Rebar prices edged up 0.2% WoW to RMB3,218/t, and HRC rose 0.2% WoW to RMB3,298/t [2][66] - **Inventory and Consumption**: Finished steel inventory fell 1.7% WoW to 14.8 million tons, while apparent consumption slipped 0.7% WoW to 8.6 million tons [2][66] - **Iron Ore Prices**: Iron ore prices declined 1% WoW to USD104/t [2][66] - **Profit Margins**: Higher coke costs pressured margins, with rebar narrowing by RMB28/t WoW to –RMB392/t and HRC contracting by RMB36/t to –RMB380/t [2][66][75] Cement Industry - **Cement Prices**: Average national cement price traded higher by 0.6% WoW to RMB345/t. Prices in various provinces showed mixed trends [3][88] - **Demand Recovery**: National cement demand slightly recovered amid favorable weather conditions, with producers planning to push prices higher by year-end [3][88] - **Shipment and Inventory Ratios**: Nationwide shipment ratio decreased by 0.3 percentage points WoW to 40.0%, while inventory ratio was at 69.4%, down 0.2 percentage points WoW [3][20] Paper and Glass Industries - **Paper Prices**: Paper price rose by 1.76% WoW to RMB3,669/t, supported by supply shrinkage and low inventory [3][99] - **Glass Prices**: National average float glass price settled lower by 0.16% WoW to RMB1,195/t amid lukewarm demand. Xinyi float glass GPM was down 0.5 percentage points to 10.8% [3][22][98] Solar Materials - **Polysilicon Prices**: N-type polysilicon and granular silicon prices remained stable at RMB53/kg and RMB51/kg, respectively [3][109] - **Solar Glass Capacity**: Solar glass daily capacity climbed 1.43% WoW to 88,590t/day, with inventory days expanding 6.5% WoW to 25.63 [3][122] Additional Insights - **Market Sentiment**: The end of the U.S. government shutdown eased risk-off sentiment, supporting copper prices [1][31] - **Cement Producers' Strategy**: Cement producers are looking to increase prices to secure more profit by year-end [3][88] - **Steel Mill Margins**: Spot cash margins at steel mills indicate a challenging environment with negative margins for both rebar and HRC [2][75][81] This summary encapsulates the key points from the conference call, highlighting the performance and trends across various sectors within the basic materials industry in China.

Summary of China Renewable Energy Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference call focused on the **China Renewable Energy** sector, particularly the solar energy market, including polysilicon, wafers, solar cells, modules, and solar glass products [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Key Points and Arguments Price Trends - **Polysilicon Prices**: Average market prices for n-type grade rod-type polysilicon decreased by -0.1% week-over-week (wow) to Rmb51.9/kg, while granular silicon prices remained unchanged at Rmb50.5/kg [2]. - **Wafer Prices**: Prices for n-type wafers fell by -2.3% wow to Rmb1.26/W for 182mm products and -1.8% wow to Rmb1.68/W for 210mm products due to inventory pressure [3]. - **Solar Cell Prices**: Average prices for TOPCon solar cells decreased by -2.6% wow to Rmb0.30/W [3]. - **Module Prices**: Average market prices for TOPCon modules increased slightly by 0.2% wow to Rmb0.67/W for utility-scale projects, but remained stable for distributed projects [4][5]. - **Solar Glass Prices**: Prices for solar glass products decreased by -1.5% wow to Rmb12.8/m2 for 2.0mm and -1.3% wow to Rmb19.8/m2 for 3.2mm products [6]. Inventory and Demand - **Inventory Levels**: Polysilicon inventory at producer plants rose by +3.1% wow to 267k tonnes, while wafer inventory increased by 5.3% wow to 18.4GW [2][3]. - **Demand Decline**: Domestic solar installation demand in China dropped by -50.9% year-over-year (yoy) to 28.7GW in 3Q25, while module export volume grew by +43.6% yoy to 78.8GW in the same period [1][5]. - **Future Projections**: Monthly polysilicon output is expected to decline by 14% month-over-month (mom) to 120k tonnes in November, with an annual output forecasted to drop by 27.8% yoy to 1,330k tonnes in 2025 [2]. Market Dynamics - **Anti-Involution Policies**: The anticipated increase in module prices is driven by anti-involution policies in China's solar industry and the potential removal of VAT rebates for module exports by the end of 2025 [1][5]. - **Production Adjustments**: Certain polysilicon plants in Southwest China, including Tongwei's facilities, suspended production due to weakened demand and increased electricity prices [2]. Investment Preferences - **Preferred Companies**: The report favors inverter manufacturers such as **Sungrow** and **Deye**, which are expected to benefit from the growth in energy storage systems. Polysilicon producers are also favored due to higher average selling prices (ASP) and potential capacity consolidation [1]. Additional Important Information - **Risks**: Key risks for companies like Deye and Sungrow include lower-than-expected demand for energy storage, increased price competition, and potential trade tariffs against Chinese products in overseas markets [20][22]. - **Valuation Models**: Target prices for companies are based on discounted cash flow (DCF) models, with specific assumptions regarding growth rates and weighted average cost of capital (WACC) [19][21][23]. This summary encapsulates the essential insights from the conference call, highlighting the current state and future outlook of the China Renewable Energy sector, particularly in solar energy.

Key Takeaways from Solar Glass Expert Call Industry Overview - The focus is on the solar glass industry within the Greater China Materials sector, particularly in the Asia Pacific region [1] Core Insights 1. **Policy Controls**: - New capacity approvals for the solar glass industry are expected to be restricted, with no new approvals post-January 2024 for projects that have not started construction [2] - Stricter energy consumption standards may lead to the exit of smaller production lines [2] - Companies selling below the average production cost will face penalties, ensuring prices do not fall below this threshold [2] - Enhanced supervision and management are anticipated between companies and the industry association [2] 2. **Overseas Capacity Expansion**: - Current operating capacity overseas is approximately 11,000 tons per day (kt/d), projected to increase to around 20kt/d by the end of 2026 [3] - New production lines are planned in Southeast Asia, India, and North America [3] - Solar glass prices overseas command a premium of about 15% compared to the domestic market, with margins realized between 15-20% [3] - The price premium is expected to be sustained into 2026 due to stronger overseas demand and the timing of new line startups [3] 3. **Material Changes**: - The government has banned sodium pyroantimonate as a glass refining agent, now classified as a strategic metal [4] - Producers are testing alternative chemical compounds, which could potentially reduce refining agent costs by over 50%, although some reduction in module light transmittance is anticipated [4] 4. **Demand and Capacity Outlook**: - Demand in the second half of 2025 is impacted by the No.136 document released in February, which has reduced returns for ground-mounted power stations in China [9] - An estimated 15-17kt/d of capacity could start operations in 2026, but realistically only 12-13kt/d are likely to commence production next year [9] - Net capacity increase will be limited, with some lines expected to exit the market due to funding pressures from low profitability [9] - Operating capacity is projected to range between 83-93kt/d over the next 4-5 years [9] - Inventory levels have recently increased to approximately 24-25 days due to weakened demand and high market supply [9] - About 20-30% of capacity faces risks of exiting the market due to financial pressures [9] Additional Important Points - The insights were provided by Mrs. Wang, Shuai, a senior analyst at SCI, indicating a level of expertise in the field [4] - The report emphasizes the importance of considering these insights in the context of investment decisions, highlighting potential conflicts of interest due to Morgan Stanley's business relationships [7]

Summary of China Solar Profitability Tracker Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference call focuses on the solar industry in China, particularly the dynamics of upstream and downstream pricing, inventory levels, and profitability trends for companies in the sector [1][2]. Key Highlights - **Upstream Price Dynamics**: - Upstream price hikes paused in October, contrasting with a 5% month-over-month increase in September. This pause is attributed to weaker downstream price acceptance, exacerbated by a significant rise in silver paste prices, which increased by 18% month-to-date and constitutes 30%-40% of non-silicon cell processing costs [6][7]. - **Inventory Levels**: - Total poly inventory rose by 7% month-over-month to 275GW in October, with approximately 150GW at poly factory sites, 110GW at wafer factory sites, and 15GW through future contracts [6]. - Glass producer-side inventory days surged by 63% compared to the end of September, reaching 25 days in October, indicating muted shipment activity [6]. - **Production Estimates**: - Monthly poly production is expected to decline by 6% in November and December compared to October, primarily due to capacity suspensions in Central Western China [6]. - New solar glass capacity continues to increase, with one line of 1.2k tons/day launched and multiple new lines scheduled for the near future [6]. - **Export Volumes**: - Cell and module export volumes decreased by 10% and 4% month-over-month, respectively, to 11GW and 28GW. This decline is mainly due to reduced restocking activities as the overseas peak demand season in Europe and the Middle East concludes [6]. Profitability Insights - **Valuation Metrics**: - The market is currently pricing in 2026 prices for poly, wafer, module, and glass at Rmb58/kg, Rmb1.8/pc, Rmb0.66/w, and Rmb13/sqm, respectively. This contrasts with Goldman Sachs' estimates of Rmb42/kg, Rmb1.3/pc, Rmb0.67/w, and Rmb10/sqm, indicating an average downside risk of 34% for the covered companies [3][16]. - **Cash Profitability Trends**: - Spot price implied cash profitability remained largely flat in the upstream sector while deteriorating in the downstream sector [10]. - The average cash gross profit margin (GPM) for poly-tier 1 was reported at 37%, with a notable decrease in margins for cell and module segments [10]. Sector Outlook - The ongoing anti-involution campaign and newly imposed restrictions on below-cost pricing are expected to only mildly improve the pricing outlook for poly. Downstream players may still need to reduce selling prices to gain market share amid weak demand [7]. - The long-term profitability outlook remains low without a reduction in Tier 1 capacity [7]. Investment Preferences - The analysis indicates a preference for specific segments within the solar value chain: - **Buy Recommendations**: Film (Hangzhou First), High-efficiency Module (Longi) - **Neutral Recommendations**: Granular Poly (GCL Tech) - **Sell Recommendations**: Glass (Flat A/H, Xinyi Solar), Rod Poly (Daqo ADR/A, Tongwei), Wafer (TZE), and Equipment (Shenzhen S.C. and Maxwell) [7]. Additional Insights - The production-to-demand ratio for the sub-sector is projected to increase to 116% in October from 113% in September, indicating a potential oversupply situation [11]. - Producer-side inventory days are likely to rise to 34 days in October from 30 days in September, further highlighting inventory concerns [13]. This summary encapsulates the critical insights and data points from the conference call, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state and outlook of the solar industry in China.

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference call focuses on the renewable energy sector in China, particularly the implications of new climate targets set for 2035 by the Chinese government [2][7]. Core Insights and Arguments 1. **New Climate Targets**: China aims to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 7% to 10% from peak levels and increase the non-fossil fuel mix in energy consumption to over 30% by 2035, with a specific target of 25% for 2030 [2][7]. 2. **Renewable Capacity Expansion**: The goal is to expand wind and solar capacity to 3600 GW by 2035, a significant increase from 1700 GW in August 2025. However, the implied annual installation rate of approximately 180 GW from 2025 to 2035 is seen as underwhelming compared to the over 230 GW per year achieved from 2021 to 2025 [2][3]. 3. **Support for Non-Electrification Uses**: The National Energy Administration emphasizes the use of renewable energy (RE) for producing green hydrogen, methanol, and ammonia, which could drive additional demand for RE and aid in decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors like cement and shipping [3][7]. 4. **Challenges and Solutions**: Near-term challenges such as weak power demand and grid curtailments are expected to be resolved as energy storage and grid capacity improve [3]. Investment Recommendations 1. **Top Picks in the Supply Chain**: - **GCL Technology Holdings (3800 HK)**: Target price of HKD 1.80, with a potential upside of 40.6% due to expected recovery in polysilicon and solar glass prices [4][11]. - **Xinyi Solar (968 HK)**: Target price of HKD 4.40, with a potential upside of 28.7%, benefiting from solar glass demand [4][20]. - **Longyuan Power (916 HK/001289 CH)**: Target prices of HKD 8.80 and RMB 21.60 for H and A shares respectively, with potential upsides of 13.7% and 28.2% [4][27]. Financial Highlights - **GCL Technology Holdings**: - Revenue expected to grow from CNY 15,098 million in 2024 to CNY 30,526 million by 2027 [12]. - Net profit projected to turn positive by 2026, reaching CNY 1,133 million [12]. - **Xinyi Solar**: - Revenue forecasted to increase from CNY 21,921 million in 2024 to CNY 28,103 million by 2027 [20]. - Net profit expected to rise to CNY 3,694 million by 2027 [20]. - **Longyuan Power**: - Revenue anticipated to grow from CNY 31,370 million in 2024 to CNY 37,362 million by 2027 [27]. - Net profit projected to reach CNY 8,646 million by 2027 [27]. Risks and Considerations - **GCL Technology Holdings**: Risks include significant drops in polysilicon prices and potential demand issues from international markets due to trade disputes [11]. - **Xinyi Solar**: Risks involve lower-than-expected average selling prices (ASPs) for solar glass and increased competition in the market [11]. - **Longyuan Power**: Risks include lower-than-expected tariffs affecting revenue and potential impairments related to renewable energy subsidies [11]. Additional Insights - The setting of official climate targets for 2035 is seen as a positive development, providing a clearer direction for the renewable energy sector [2][3]. - The focus on renewable energy applications beyond electrification is expected to create new growth opportunities in the sector [3][7]. This summary encapsulates the key points discussed in the conference call, highlighting the strategic direction of the renewable energy industry in China and the investment opportunities within it.

Summary of China Renewable Energy Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference call focused on the **China Renewable Energy** sector, particularly the solar energy market, including solar glass, polysilicon, wafers, solar cells, and modules. Key Points and Arguments Policy Developments - The **Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)** and other Chinese administrations issued a new policy titled "Work Plan for Stabilizing Growth in the Building Materials Industry (2025-2026)" aimed at promoting low carbon and digitalization in the construction materials industry. This policy is expected to facilitate the consolidation of solar glass production by shifting focus from 'project management' to 'planning oriented', which may help eliminate inefficient production capacity [1][1][1]. Price Trends - **Midstream solar product prices** (wafer, solar cells, and solar glass) increased by **1-3% week-over-week (wow)**, while upstream polysilicon and downstream solar module prices remained stable [1][1][1]. - **Polysilicon prices** saw a slight increase of **0.2% wow**, averaging **Rmb52.3/kg** for n-type grade rod-type polysilicon, while granular silicon prices remained unchanged at **Rmb49.5/kg**. Polysilicon inventory at producer plants decreased by **6.8% wow** to **204k tonnes** [2][2][2]. - **Wafer prices** for n-type products rose by **1.5% wow** to **Rmb1.35/W** for 182mm products and **1.2% wow** to **Rmb1.70/W** for 210mm products. Total wafer inventory increased by **1.9% wow** to **16.9GW** [3][3][3]. - **Solar cell prices** increased by **2.5% wow** to **Rmb0.32/W** for TOPCon products, with expected output rising by **1.5% wow** to **60.0GW** in September [3][3][3]. - **Module prices** experienced a slight decline, with average prices for TOPCon modules decreasing by **0.6% wow** to **Rmb0.66/W** for utility-scale projects [4][4][4]. Demand and Production Insights - **Solar installation demand** in China remains muted due to tariff uncertainties, but module export demand has grown significantly, with a **41.9% year-over-year (yoy)** increase in module export volume to **26.6GW** in August [6][6][6]. - Monthly module output is expected to rise by **2.2% month-over-month (mom)** and **2.4% yoy** to **50.3GW** in September [6][6][6]. - **Solar glass prices** increased by **1.1% wow** to **Rmb13.5/m2** for 2.0mm products, while the inventory period decreased by **6.8% wow** to **15.0 days** [7][7][7]. Company Recommendations - The report expresses a favorable outlook on companies such as **Sungrow** and **Deye**, which are expected to benefit from the growing demand for energy storage systems. Additionally, it recommends buying shares in upstream polysilicon makers like **GCL**, **Tongwei**, **Daqo**, and **TBEA** due to anticipated industry consolidation driven by anti-involution measures [1][1][1]. Additional Important Information - The report highlights the potential for increased capacity utilization among module companies to produce more with low-cost materials amid rising upstream solar product prices [6][6][6]. - The operational daily solar glass melting capacity remained unchanged at **89,290 tonnes**, but some companies plan to increase capacity due to improved profitability [7][7][7]. This summary encapsulates the key insights and developments discussed during the conference call, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state and future outlook of the China Renewable Energy sector.

Core Insights - Homerun Resources Inc. has signed a non-binding offtake agreement with Brasil Fotovoltaico for the supply of 180 thousand tonnes of solar glass annually at a price of USD 750 per tonne [1][2] - The company aims to cover the full initial capacity of its solar glass plant with offtake agreements, projecting an increase to 450 thousand tonnes, exceeding the planned capacity of 1000 tonnes per day [2] - The agreement is non-binding and will be formalized once the solar glass plant reaches a Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) [3][4] Company Developments - The BFS process is progressing rapidly, with internal calculations for production plant engineering and equipment suppliers completed [7] - Discussions are ongoing with the Brazilian Government's industrial development bank (BNDES) for financing the capital expenditure (CAPEX) required for the facility [7] - The company is positioned as a key supplier for solar glass in Brazil, benefiting from increased tariffs on solar module imports that support domestic manufacturing [5] Industry Context - Brazil has recently surpassed Germany to become the third-largest country for annual installed capacity of solar modules, primarily relying on imports [5] - Brasil Fotovoltaico aims to establish a vertically integrated industrial complex in Brazil, focusing on the entire solar supply chain from polysilicon to solar modules [8] - Homerun is committed to sustainable production technologies and aims to deliver shareholder value through strategic execution in the global energy transition [12]