[SMM Silicon-based PV Morning Meeting Summary: Module Price-holding Sentiment Increases Somewhat, Polysilicon Prices Remain Stable Temporarily] Last week, distributed module prices in China were mostly stable, and enterprises' willingness to hold prices firm increased somewhat, especially among some second-tier companies that had previously seen larger price declines. On the centralized side, projects have increased recently, but prices have started to decline. The lowest ex-factory price for some orders under delivery has fallen to 0.68 Yuan/W, and new order prices have also dipped below 0.7 Yuan/W. Currently, quotes for distributed high-efficiency Topcon modules are: 183 (0.734 Yuan/W), 210R (0.740 Yuan/W), and 210N (0.7425 Yuan/W); for centralized, Topcon 182/183 (0.721 Yuan/W) and 210N (0.741 Yuan/W).

[Bullish Sentiment Prevailed in the Market This Week, with Solid Support for the Silicon Metal Bottom]: On the supply side, operating rates at northern silicon enterprises were basically stable, while those in Sichuan and Yunnan slowly improved. However, the pace of overall supply release was limited, with insufficient incremental elasticity. Combined with demand side keeping pace, supply and demand in the industry were broadly balanced recently. Recently, bullish sentiment dominated the market, providing strong support for the silicon metal bottom. Silicon metal prices were constrained in both upside and downside room and may continue to move sideways within a narrow range. Watch for fluctuations in macro expectations and changes in the PV industry, which may cause marginal disturbance to silicon metal.

[SMM Silicon-Based PV Morning Meeting Minutes] Polysilicon: Quoted prices for N-type recharging polysilicon are 32.7-35 yuan/kg. Polysilicon prices are overall relatively weak, market transactions are weak, the earlier order signing has concluded, and the current focus is mainly on shipments while awaiting further policy developments. Wafers: Market prices for 18X wafers are 0.88-0.9 yuan/piece, 210RN wafers are 0.98-1.00 yuan/piece, and 210N wafers are 1.18-1.2 yuan/piece. Currently, the three top-tier players are all holding prices, with overall transactions more optimistic than expectations, but recently facing pressure from both the cell and polysilicon ends.

[SMM Silicon-Based PV Morning Meeting Minutes: Polysilicon Prices Temporarily Stable, Module Prices Drop] Over the weekend, polysilicon N-type recharging polysilicon was quoted at 32.7-35.5 yuan/kg. Market order signing was limited, and prices remained temporarily stable over the weekend. After the exhibition, no new orders were signed, and the market is watching for subsequent policy developments.

[Silicon Coal Prices Rose Slightly, Trading Game Sentiment Increased in Silicon Metal Market]: Supply side, northern silicon enterprises' operating rates were basically stable, while southwestern silicon enterprises' operating rates gradually improved. As the southwest successively entered the rainy season with electricity prices adjusted downward, a small number of silicon enterprises resumed production or increased operations, but the pace of production release was relatively slow. Cost side, although southwestern rainy season costs were periodically adjusted downward, current regional costs remained higher than those of northern silicon enterprises in production. Therefore, rising silicon coal raw material prices provided strong cost support below silicon metal prices, while prices above were constrained by the supply-demand relationship. Silicon metal was in a trading game phase, with attention on changes in market sentiment.

[SMM Silicon-Based PV Morning Meeting Summary] Polysilicon: N-type recharging polysilicon was quoted at 33-35.7 yuan/kg. Polysilicon prices remained generally weak, with sluggish market transactions. Previous order signing had concluded, and the current focus was primarily on shipments, with market participants watching for subsequent policy developments. Wafer: Market prices for 18X wafers were 0.88-0.9 yuan/piece, 210RN wafers were priced at 0.98-1.00 yuan/piece, and 210N wafers were priced at 1.18-1.2 yuan/piece. Top-tier players continued to hold prices, and improving quality to justify price increases had become the most pressing task in the wafer segment.

[SMM Silicon-Based PV Morning Meeting Minutes: Polysilicon Prices Temporarily Stable, Module Transaction Center Continued Weak] Last week, module prices in China maintained a downward trend. The atmosphere of enterprises competing on prices to push shipments intensified again, and currently, enterprise quotes for centralized modules also began to decline continuously. The overall market transaction center kept shifting downward, and subsequent module lows were expected to reach 0.7 yuan/W. Currently, distributed Topcon 183, 210R, and 210N high-efficiency modules were quoted at 0.742 Yuan/W, 0.749 Yuan/W, and 0.752 Yuan/W respectively, while centralized Topcon 182/183 and 210N high-efficiency modules were quoted at 0.723 Yuan/W and 0.743 Yuan/W respectively.

[Silicon Metal Prices Move Sideways, Focus on Pace of Production Resumptions on Both Supply and Demand Sides]: At the beginning of the week, spot silicon metal prices moved sideways with a slight downward bias before shifting to sideways trading. As of May 21, SMM east China oxygen-blown #553 silicon was at 9,100-9,200 yuan/mt, down 150 yuan/mt WoW, and #441 silicon was at 9,300-9,400 yuan/mt, down 150 yuan/mt WoW. Overall, the silicon metal market is currently in a stalemate phase of tug-of-war between sellers and buyers, with prices moving sideways. Entering June, supply side, some silicon enterprises in Sichuan and Yunnan are set to resume production, while demand side, downstream polysilicon also has production resumption expectations, with a clear pattern of simultaneous increases in supply and demand. Cost side, bullish sentiment in the silicon coal market was relatively strong, with silicon coal prices in Shanxi and Shaanxi rising by around 50-100 yuan/mt during the week. In the short term, silicon metal prices may continue to move sideways, and attention should be paid to the pace of production resumptions on both supply and demand sides going forward.

[SMM Silicon-Based PV Morning Meeting Summary] Polysilicon: N-type recharging polysilicon was quoted at 33-35.9 yuan/kg. Polysilicon prices were generally weak. Dense/recharging prices were relatively stable, with low trading volume. Mixed packages gradually became the market mainstream, with prices for some grades falling to around 30 yuan. Wafer: Market 18X wafer prices were 0.88-0.9 yuan/piece, 210RN wafer prices were 0.98-1.00 yuan/piece, and 210N wafer prices were 1.18-1.2 yuan/piece. Currently, the lower end of the 210R price range still showed a downward trend, while the other two sizes remained temporarily stable. Leading wafer enterprises continued to hold prices firm. According to SMM statistics, the overall furnace-loading costs across companies declined notably, and current selling prices could still cover cash costs.

[Silicon Metal Prices Shift to Move Sideways, Attention on Operating Rate Changes on Both Supply and Demand Sides]: At the beginning of the week, spot silicon metal prices edged lower in a narrow range before shifting to move sideways. As of May 21, SMM east China oxygen-blown #553 silicon was at 9,100-9,200 yuan/mt, down 150 yuan/mt WoW, and #441 silicon was at 9,300-9,400 yuan/mt, down 150 yuan/mt WoW. The futures market center shifted lower WoW. On Thursday, the most-traded SI2609 contract closed at 8,440 yuan/mt, down 215 yuan/mt WoW, with open interest at 308,000 lots, a WoW decrease of 7,000 lots. In terms of market transactions, as futures weakened at the beginning of the week, some downstream buyers and traders increased their rigid demand purchases, and the market transaction center moved lower WoW. Fundamentals side, both supply and demand of silicon metal are expected to increase in June. Supply side, the main driver is the increase in operating rates of silicon enterprises in Sichuan and Yunnan during the rainy season. Demand side, the main factor is production resumption expectations of individual polysilicon enterprises.