Solar panels so cheap that manufacturers may be selling at a loss

Global spot market price for solar panels fell 2.4% to an average of 36 cents a watt on December 28

Solar manufacturers led by China’s Trina Solar. are probably selling at a loss after prices fell to a record low this week.

The global spot market price for solar panels fell 2.4 per cent to an average of 36 cents a watt on December 28, according to PVinsights.

That’s the bottom end of the cost range for most producers in the third quarter, according to Jeffrey Osborne, an analyst at Cowen & Co. Suppliers are expanding capacity this year while demand is expected to slow in 2017, helping to push prices down.

“Certainly it would be a challenge for anyone to make money