The Chinese supplier shipped more modules in the quarter than the previous market leader and thin-film rival First Solar for the first time since Q3’08 to become the largest supplier to the global PV module market during the quarter.

Although First Solar, the US-based producer of cadmium telluride PV modules, topped the production rankings in Q2’10 (even higher than Suntech), not all of its modules were shipped in the quarter and its shipments bucked the industry trend and in fact declined over the previous quarter.

Sharp maintained its position as the third largest supplier in the quarter, which it has now held for the last four quarters. However, fourth and fifth placed Trina Solar and Yingli, grew their shipments significantly (by 16 percent and 14 percent respectively) over the previous quarter and continued to close the gap further between them and the Japanese electronics giant. High demand and full utilization of production capacities also enabled the two suppliers to increase their already healthy gross margins to 32.1 percent and 33.5 percent.

“The three largest Chinese suppliers performed very strongly in the second quarter,” commented PV Research Analyst, Sam Wilkinson. “Suntech, Trina and Yingli’s combined shipments increased by 14 percent, significantly more than Sharp and First Solar, the other suppliers in the top five.” “IMS Research predicts that total module shipments will increase for the sixth consecutive quarter in Q3, driven by continuing high demand from all markets, including Germany and France, where completed installations are predicted to continue to surge despite recent cuts to the countries’ incentive schemes,” Wilkinson continued.
 
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