SHANGRAO, China : JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (“JinkoSolar” or the “Company”) (NYSE: JKS), one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.
First Quarter 2023 Business Highlights
- The decline in polysilicon prices stimulated module demand in the first quarter. Our quarterly module shipments increased by more than 60% year over year, of which our shipments to the Chinese market increased by more than 2 times year over year.
- Our orderbook visibility for 2023 exceeds 60%, with overseas orders as the major contributor.
- N-type module shipments in the first quarter were approximately 6GW; N-type modules retained a competitive premium over P-type modules.
- The mass production efficiency of N-type TOPCon cells reached 25.3%.
- Jinko Solar Co., Ltd. (“Jiangxi Jinko”), our majority-owned principal operating subsidiary, issued convertible bonds in the principal amount of RMB10 billion to support capacity expansion for advanced N-type.
First Quarter 2023 Operational and Financial Highlights
- Quarterly shipments were 14,490 MW (13,038 MW for solar modules, and 1,452 MW for cells and wafers), down 12.8% sequentially, and up 72.7% year-over-year.
- Total revenues were RMB23.33 billion (US$3.40 billion), down 22.2% sequentially and up 58.0% year-over-year.
- Gross profit was RMB4.04 billion (US$588.4 million), down 4.0% sequentially and up 81.5% year-over-year.
- Gross margin was 17.3%, compared with 14.0% in Q4 2022 and 15.1% in Q1 2022.
- Net income attributable to JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd’s ordinary shareholders was RMB788.7 million (US$114.8 million), compared with RMB665.0 million in Q4 2022 and RMB28.9 million in Q1 2022.
- Adjusted net income attributable to JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd’s ordinary shareholders, which excludes the impact from (i) a change in fair value of the convertible senior notes (the “Notes”), (ii) a change in fair value of long-term investment and (iii) the share based compensation expenses, was RMB836.4 million (US$121.8 million), compared with RMB267.8 million in Q4 2022 and RMB328.4 million in Q1 2022.
- Basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share were RMB3.91 (US$0.57) and RMB3.74 (US$0.54), respectively. This translates into basic and diluted earnings per ADS of RMB15.62 (US$2.28) and RMB14.95 (US$2.18), respectively.
Mr. Xiande Li, JinkoSolar’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are pleased to deliver year-over-year improvements in module shipments, total revenues and gross margin. With polysilicon prices being volatile in the first quarter, we adjusted our supply chain strategy to effectively control costs. Meanwhile, the ratio of N-type products shipment approached nearly 50% of our total module shipments thanks to their high efficiency and our strong global marketing network, which partially contributed to the improvement in our profitability. Gross margin was 17.3%, compared with 15.1% in the first quarter of 2022. Our profitability in the first quarter remained under pressure from demurrage costs in the U.S. market. We have proactively taken measures to address this and we have seen both the efficiency of customs clearance and the size of our shipments to the US market gradually improve recently. As we continue to make effective progress, we expect our shipments to the US market to gradually increase in the coming quarters.
Growth in PV demand in the first quarter remained strong despite some seasonal factors. The Chinese market benefited from falling prices of PV and delays in PV projects from 2022. The new installations of PV reached 33.7 GWac, representing an increase of 154.8% year-over-year. As a result, the cumulative installation of PV has surpassed that of hydropower for the first time, making PV the second largest power source in China. In addition, exports of solar cells and modules from China to overseas markets remained strong in the first quarter. Total overseas shipments of modules and cells reached US$13.1 billion in the first quarter, representing an increase of 15.3% year-over-year. Since the second quarter, as pricing games between different segments along the supply chain relatively stabilized, the price of polysilicon started to decrease moderately and current module prices have been attractive enough to improve the economics of many PV projects. With more production volumes being gradually released during the year, we believe polysilicon supply shortages will ease and polysilicon price declines will release large market demand. Top manufacturers are expected to increase market share thanks to stronger supply chain management, market footprint and the power of their R&D and products. We are optimistic about global market demand and the opportunities brought by new technology in 2023. We will continue to invest in R&D and advanced N-type capacity to enhance our N-type leadership in terms of mass production capabilities, product performance, and costs. Recently, our majority-owned principal operating subsidiary, Jiangxi Jinko, successfully issued convertible bonds in the principal amount of RMB10 billion to support advanced N-type capacity expansion.
The second phase of 11 GW TOPCon cell capacity in Jianshan has reached full production and the average mass-produced efficiency of 182 mm N-type TOPCon cells reached 25.3%. We have also further improved our N-type ecological chain, constantly enhancing our all-around competitive advantages of N-type wafer-cell-module, with improving supply chain management for key and auxiliary materials, iteration of core technologies and process improvement. As our technology, product performance and costs are all improving continuously, we expect to maintain our leading position in the industry.
By the end of the first quarter, our accumulated N-type module shipments exceeded 16 GW, providing support for hundreds of projects globally in the past year. In January 2023, we launched the Second-Generation Tiger Neo panel family. The module efficiency of the upgraded Tiger Neo family of 445Wp for 54-cell, 615Wp for 72-cell, and 635Wp for 78-cell were up to 22.27%, 23.23%, and 22.72% respectively. By the end of 2023, we expect mass-produced N-type cell efficiency to reach 25.8%, which will further improve the performance of our N-type modules.
We are confident in our ability to further increase our competitiveness and profitability in the global market, with our continuously improved global industrial chain and cutting-edge N-type technology and products. By the end of 2023, we expect N-type cell capacity to account for over 70% of our solar cell capacity. We are confident we will achieve our module shipment target set at the beginning of the year, with N-type modules accounting for about 60% of total module shipments. We expect our module shipments to be in the range of 16.0 GW to 18.0 GW for the second quarter of 2023.
First Quarter 2023 Financial Results
Total Revenues
Total revenues in the first quarter of 2023 were RMB23.33 billion (US$3.40 billion), a decrease of 22.2% from RMB30.00 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022 and an increase of 58.0% from RMB14.76 billion in the first quarter of 2022. The sequential decrease was mainly attributable to a decrease in the shipment of solar modules. The year-over-year increase was mainly attributable to an increase in the shipment of solar modules due to the increasing demand of global market.
Gross Profit and Gross Margin
Gross profit in the first quarter of 2023 was RMB4.04 billion (US$588.4 million), compared with RMB4.21 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022 and RMB2.23 billion in the first quarter of 2022.
Gross margin was 17.3% in the first quarter of 2023, compared with 14.0% in the fourth quarter of 2022 and 15.1% in the first quarter of 2022. The sequential and year-over-year increases were mainly due to a decrease in the cost of polysilicon.
Income from Operations and Operating Margin
Income from operations in the first quarter of 2023 was RMB1.21 billion (US$176.4 million), compared with RMB614.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 and RMB40.8 million in the first quarter of 2022.
Operating profit margin was 5.2% in the first quarter of 2023, compared with 2.0% in the fourth quarter of 2022 and 0.3% in the first quarter of 2022.
Total operating expenses in the first quarter of 2023 were RMB2.83 billion (US$412.0 million), a decrease of 21.3% from RMB3.59 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022 and an increase of 29.4% from RMB2.19 billion in the first quarter of 2022. The sequential decrease was mainly due to a decrease in shipping costs for solar modules and a decrease in impairment loss on property, plant and equipment, and year-over-year increase was mainly attributable to (i) an increasing loss of disposal on property, plant and equipment and (ii) an increase in demurrage charges.
Total operating expenses accounted for 12.1% of total revenues in the first quarter of 2023, compared to 12.0% in the fourth quarter of 2022 and 14.8% in the first quarter of 2022.
Interest Expenses, Net
Net interest expenses in the first quarter of 2023 were RMB55.4 million (US$8.1 million), a decrease of 50.4% from RMB111.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 and a decrease of 65.8% from RMB162.2 million in the first quarter of 2022. The sequential and the year-over-year decreases were mainly due to an increase in interest income.
Subsidy Income
Subsidy income in the first quarter of 2023 was RMB264.0 million (US$38.4 million), compared with RMB94.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 and RMB305.3 million in the first quarter of 2022. The sequential and year-over-year changes were mainly attributable to the changes in the cash receipt of subsidies from local governments in China which are non-recurring, not refundable and with no conditions.
Exchange Gain/Loss and Change in Fair Value of Foreign Exchange Derivatives
The Company recorded a net exchange loss (including change in fair value of foreign exchange derivatives) of RMB73.7 million (US$10.7 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared to a net exchange gain of RMB35.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 and a net exchange gain of RMB76.4 million in the first quarter of 2022. The sequential and year-over-year changes were mainly attributable to the exchange rate fluctuation of US dollars against RMB in the first quarter of 2023.
Change in Fair Value of Convertible Senior Notes
The Company issued US$85.0 million of 4.5% convertible senior notes due 2024 in May 2019 and has elected to measure the Notes at fair value derived by valuation model, i.e. Binomial Model.
The Company recognized a loss from a change in fair value of the Notes of RMB261.4 million (US$38.1 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared to a gain of RMB396.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 and a loss of RMB104.9 million in the first quarter of 2022. The changes were primarily due to the changes in the Company’s stock price in the first quarter of 2023.
Change in Fair Value of Long-term Investment
The Company invested in certain equity interests in several solar technology companies engaged in photovoltaic industry chain, which are recorded as long-term investment and reported at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings. The Company recognized a gain from change in fair value of RMB440.4 million (US$64.1 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared with a gain of RMB101.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Equity in Earnings of Affiliated Companies
The Company indirectly holds a 20% equity interest in Sweihan PV Power Company P.J.S.C, a developer and operator of solar power projects in Dubai, and a 9% equity interest in Xinte Ltd, a domestic silicon material supplier, and both are accounted for using the equity method. The Company recorded equity in gain of affiliated companies of RMB180.0 million(US$26.2 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared with gains of RMB148.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 and gains of RMB6.4 million in the first quarter of 2022. The fluctuation of equity in gain of affiliated companies primarily arose from the net gain incurred by an affiliate company.
Income Tax Expense
The Company recorded an income tax expense of RMB315.0 million (US$45.9 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared with an income tax expense of RMB265.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 and an income tax expense of RMB71.0 million in the first quarter of 2022.
Non-Controlling Interests
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests amounted to RMB605.1 million (US$88.1 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared with RMB344.7million in the fourth quarter of 2022 and RMB75.3 million in the first quarter of 2022. The sequential and year-over-year increase were mainly attributable to the increase of net income of the Company’s major subsidiary, Jinko Solar Co., Ltd (“Jiangxi Jinko”).
Net Income and Earnings per Share
Net income attributable to the JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd’s ordinary shareholders was RMB788.7 million (US$114.8million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared with RMB665.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 and RMB28.9 million in the first quarter of 2022. Excluding the impact from (i)a change in fair value of the Notes (ii) a change in fair value of the long-term investment and (iii)the share based compensation expenses, the adjusted net income attributable to JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd’s ordinary shareholders was RMB836.4 million (US$121.8 million), compared with RMB267.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 and RMB328.4 million in the first quarter of 2022.
Basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share were RMB3.91 (US$0.57) and RMB3.74 (US$0.54), respectively, in the first quarter of 2023, compared to RMB3.31 and RMB1.25, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2022, and RMB0.15 and RMB0.15, respectively, in the first quarter of 2022. As each ADS represents four ordinary shares, this translates into basic and diluted earnings per ADS of RMB15.62 (US$2.28) and RMB14.95 (US$2.18), respectively in the first quarter of 2023; RMB13.22 and RMB5.01, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2022; and RMB0.60 and RMB0.60, respectively, in the first quarter of 2022.
First Quarter 2023 Operational Highlights
Solar Module, Cell and Wafer Shipments
Total shipments were 14,490 MW in the first quarter of 2023, including 13,038 MW for solar module shipments and 1,452 MW for cell and wafer shipments.
About JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.
JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS) is one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world. JinkoSolar distributes its solar products and sells its solutions and services to a diversified international utility, commercial and residential customer base in China, the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Chile, South Africa, India, Mexico, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Greece and other countries and regions.
JinkoSolar had 14 productions facilities globally, 24 overseas subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, India, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Indonesia, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, and global sales teams in China, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Spain, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Vietnam and India, as of March 31, 2023.
