Solar panel prices are expected to fall 34% by year end to a global average of 24.4¢ a watt, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. GTM Research is projecting a 31% drop to an average of 27¢ a watt.

These figures are before imposition of US import tariffs.

Roth Capital Partners reports that US spot prices for high-efficiency PERC modules that are able not only to absorb direct sunlight, but also to soak up scattered and reflected light on the back side were 42¢ to 47¢ a watt in mid-July, with prices expected to fall to 41¢ to 45¢ by the fall.

Some developers are delaying purchase orders to take advantage of falling prices.

Chinese solar panel demand is expected to drop to 28,800 megawatts compared to 53,000 megawatts in 2017, according to the latest estimate by GTM Research, down from estimates from other experts in June for Chinese demand in the 30,000- to 35,000-megawatt range.

The Chinese government, in a surprise move on June 1, scaled back central government support for utility-scale solar projects and placed a low cap on distributed solar deployments this year. It had already stopped issuing permits for new solar facilities in parts of the country where existing plants are sitting idle due to grid congestion.