According IMSResearch latest quarterly report , as prices fell sharply, PV inverter suppliers continued to hit in the second quarter and year-on- year industry revenue decreased 1.3%. However, the second quarter is not all bad news : Inverter shipments significantly increased by 40 %, indicating that the first quarter of excess inventory no longer have the ability to destroy the industry , or even stronger demand in the second half .

According IMSResearch, the market recovered strongly in the second quarter , shipments of nearly half 10GW, however, more than 20% of the ex-factory prices fell rapidly , causing industry revenue to decline. Earlier this year , IMSResearch forecast full-year inverter shipments will again exceed 20GW, but the rapid decline in prices eroded the revenue decline in 2010 compared to a record high .

IMSResearch " PV inverter Trade Leads Quarterly Report " (PVInverterSupply & Demand) collected over 90 percent of industry revenue and shipments of manufacturers data , and found that the second quarter of the price is a key point , and the price will further decline in the second half . IMSResearch PV senior research director and the report 's co-author AshSharma commented that " the first and second quarter inverter rapid decline in prices , the average price is less than € 0.20 / W, but did not reach the PV modules representing a 20% decline in 2010 ( partly due to the change in product mix ) . "

IMS Research found that several factors caused the price drop , noting that the average price of the next few quarters may increase . "And different PV modules , inverters prices there are many other factors also mix in. Of course, users require suppliers to reduce prices this is one , but the more important factors such as the shift to lower prices geographical areas , while discard expensive string photovoltaic inverter to lower- cost products such trend -phase product mix also contributed to the decline in prices . "Sharma said.

Geographic variation on the PV inverter industry demand caused prices double impact . First, a few such as India, China and other lower-cost markets to seize global market share, causing prices to decline. Second, many large suppliers continue to re- adjust its strategy to focus out of the stagnant German market to smaller emerging markets. " Suppliers effectively trying to buy market share in emerging markets , sent on a long-term foothold in emerging markets ." Sharma commented. Integrated with major trade associations face found that some leading inverter manufacturers in smaller new markets in Europe , has more than 45% of the price to fend off competition .

Of course, the expansion of supplier base and a large inverter supplier for customers in a weak demand , indeed to some extent, depressed prices, and this situation will continue to put pressure on suppliers , prompting customers to seek suppliers to cut costs , lower prices. "This year is only part of the price decline can be attributed to changes in the geographic and product mix ," Sharma pointed out , "In fact, in the second quarter, prices have declined in all regions , and because the demand for too low , resulting in such as Germany, Italy, prices fell rapidly , especially in mature markets . "

Although the inverter increasing number of suppliers , but in the second quarter , as the market leader SMASolarTechnology get rid of the heavy shadow of the previous quarter to regain some market share , its market share grew by 8% , once again controlling more than 30% the overall market . "SMA has been because of its technology, brand and value-added products to maintain a competitive advantage , while its also shows its competitors can still compete on price in the second quarter, the company also reduced the number of it, we'll see ." Sharma case concluded.