Hanwha SolarOne sees falling solar cell prices

The Chinese photovoltaic cell maker Hanwha SolarOne Co expects a sequential dip in average selling price in the first quarter and a rise in polysilicon costs. The company expects average selling price to fall about five percent in the first quarter, having dropped 11 percent to USD1.79 per watt in 4Q 2101.

Subsidy cuts in Germany - the largest solar market - have prompted fears across the industry that prices for photovoltaic modules will decline. Italy and France are expected to follow suit. Hanwha said shipments to Germany fell 25 percent in the quarter.

The company expects module shipments of 235-245 MW in the first quarter, up from 218.8 MW in the fourth quarter.