LDK Solar Advises Outlook For Fiscal 2012

LDK Solar Co., Ltd, a manufacturer of photovoltaic products, has revised its guidance for the fourth quarter of 2011.  Additionally, the company announced that it will report financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2011 before the market opens on Thursday, April 12, 2012. 

For the fourth quarter of 2011, LDK Solar revised its guidance for revenue to be in the range of $440 to $450 million, wafer shipments between 215 and 220 megawatts (MW), cells and module shipments between 250 MW and 260 MW, in-house polysilicon production between 2,100 MT and 2,300 MT and in-house cell production between 130 MW and 150 MW.

The company previously forecasted fourth quarter revenue to be in the range of $440 million to $520 million, with wafer shipments between 200 MW and 270 MW, and module shipments between 180 MW and 270 MW, in-house polysilicon production between 2,200 MT and 2,800 MT, in-house cell production between 220 MW and 250 MW.

As a result of the rapidly declining market price for wafers and modules during the fourth quarter of 2011, LDK Solar expects to incur a write-down of inventories, realize impairment charges on contractual purchase agreements, and therefore, expects gross margin to be negative.  In addition, some provisions for accounts receivable and fixed assets may also be required.

For fiscal 2012, LDK Solar estimates its revenue in the range of $2.0 billion to $2.7 billion. Polysilicon  production between 12,000 MT and 15,000 MT, of which shipments to 3rd party customers are  expected to be between 6,000 MT and 8,000 MT. Wafer production between 2.7  GW and 3.3 GW, of which shipments to 3rd party customers are expected to be between 1.5 GW and 2.0 GW, in-house cell production between 1.2 GW and 1.6 GW, and module production between 1.2 GW and 1.6 GW, with cell and module shipments to 3rd party customers between 1.0 GW and 1.3 GW, inverter shipments between 200 MW to 250 MW.  LDK Solar expects PV system project construction to be in the range of 400 MW to 600 MW and to recognize between 270 MW and 360 MW through project sales and EPC services for 3rd party customers.

Outlook for the fourth quarter 2011 and fiscal 2012 are preliminary estimates.  The company has yet to complete its preliminary review and compilation of its financial information for the quarter.  Results are subject to change.