China warns against monopolies, hoarding in photovoltaic industry

China’s sector ministry issued a notice on Wed (Aug 24) to advertise and optimise the introduction of the country’s pv industry, warning towards market monopolies plus encouraging development of power and storage projects.

Due to supply and requirement mismatches, severe cost fluctuations, and hoarding in the supply string of the photovoltaic sector, there is an “urgent need to deepen industry management”, the ministry stated.

“Local market supervision departments should strengthen supervision and management… (and) significantly crack down on unlawful activities in the pv industry”, said the industry ministry, citing price bidding, monopoly procedures and the production and sale of fake items as such activities.

The ministry furthermore cautioned against hoarding and reselling materials and resources inside the industry, and urged relevant enterprises to build up reserves of polysilicon, batteries and other components to promote peak waxing and the stability from the industrial supply chain.

“Hoarding can be strictly prohibited”, it said.