Giga Solar Materials expects its global market share for PV aluminum paste to rise from 27% in 2010 to 40% in 2011, becoming the world's largest producer, according to company chairman Chen Chi-jen.
In addition to aluminum paste, Giga Solar has shipped PV silver-aluminum paste and will soon begin volume production of PV silver paste which is under trial use by potential clients, Chen pointed out. Giga Solar's quotes for aluminum paste are 5-10% lower than prices offered by international vendors.
Continual increases in the international price of silver since the beginning of 2011 has pushed up production costs of silver-aluminum paste, a situation favorable for Giga Solar because many Taiwan- and China-based solar cell module makers have transfered to aluminum paste, Chen pointed out.
Giga Solar recorded gross margin of 54.35% and net profit of NT$406 million (US$13.7 million) with net EPS of NT$11.97 for the first quarter of 2011.
| Giga Solar: Shipments of PV conductive paste (metric ton) |
| Type of product | 1Q11 shipments | 2011 target |
| Aluminum paste | 678 | 3,000-4,000 |
| Silver-aluminum paste | 3.13 | 30-40 |
Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, April 2011