Trina Solar second-quarter earnings soar

(Adds details on results, outlook)

NEW YORK, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Chinese solar power company Trina Solar Ltd said on Monday that quarterly earnings more than doubled, driven by increased solar module shipments.

Second-quarter net income rose to $17.1 million, or 68 cents per American Depositary share, from $7.4 million, or 32 cents per ADS, a year earlier.

Revenue almost tripled in the quarter to $204.2 million.


Last month, Trina raised its second-quarter revenue forecast to between $200 million and $205 million, citing robust demand.

At the same time, however, it lowered its gross margin forecast for the quarter to between 22.5 percent and 23.5 percent. In June, it had said rising silicon costs could pressure margins for the period.

Tight supplies of silicon have crimped expansion of the fast-growing solar sector for the past year, and rising costs are expected to weigh on the industry until new silicon production capacity comes online late this year.

The company said it has now secured about 95 percent of its estimated silicon requirements for 2008.

Trina said it expects to ship between 62 megawatts and 66 megawatts of photovoltaic modules in the third quarter. (Reporting by Euan Rocha; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Steve Orlofsky)