Japanese Photovoltaic Energy Association released figures for the fourth quarter and the full fiscal year for 2011, covering a period from January 2012 to March 2012 and the twelve months from April 2011 to March 2012. Total quarterly shipments were at 554.2MW, a sequential decrease of 23% from the third quarter. While shipments of PV cells and modules increased by a fraction of a percentage point during Q4, domestic and import sales of thin-film decreased by 68%. Imports of PV materials for the period grew by 3% sequentially, with monocrystalline products increasing 16%, while multicrystalline products lost ground recording a 13% decrease.
For the year, the domestic market grew by 32% to 1.4GW including 302MW of imports. Shipments of imported materials grew by 80.4% in comparison to 2010. Exports for the year were at 1.2GW, a 13.2% decrease. Canadian Solar (CSIQ), Suntech (STP) , Yingli (YGE) and Trina Solar (TSL) opened up offices in Japan hoping to gain larger market share.
Overall total shipments for the full fiscal year ending March 2012 were 2.6GW, showing growth of 5.8%.
Exports to the US have dropped by 14% to 276MW, and by 22% to Europe with total of 730MW, while the rest of the world recorded an increase of 26% for a total of 276MW.
Based on the material categories, monocrystalline shipments were at 1.02GW with 23.5% growth, and multicrystalline at 1.02GW, a decrease of 22%, while shipments of thin-film were 636MW, an increase of 64% over the results from 2010.
Japan is expected to become one of the major solar markets in the world, starting with the introduction of new FiT in July of this year and the decision of abandoning nuclear energy for renewable resources with an emphasis on solar.
JPEA conducted a Q4 survey among 34 companies, some of which are listed below: Motech, STP (STP), Canadian Solar (CSIQ),Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd, Kyocera, Q-Cells Japan Co., Ltd, Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., Sorafu Rontia Co., Ltd., Product Play Solar Corporation, Takashima, Choshu Industry Co., Ltd., Toshiba Corporation, Fuji Electric Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd., Misawa Homes Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., YOCASOL Co., Ltd
