Follow India Renewable Energy News on WhatsApp for exclusive updates on clean energy news and insights

India Imposes Anti-Dumping Duty on Solar Glass Imports from China and Vietnam

India has imposed a five-year anti-dumping duty on imports of textured tempered glass—an essential component in solar panels—from China and Vietnam, to protect domestic manufacturers from unfair pricing practices. The duty will be calculated based on the difference between the landed price and a government-set reference price.

Textured tempered glass enhances the efficiency of photovoltaic modules by minimizing reflection and shielding solar cells from external damage. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) initiated the investigation in February 2024 after a complaint was filed by Borosil Renewables, India’s largest solar glass manufacturer, alongside four other domestic producers.

The DGTR’s findings revealed a sharp increase in low-cost imports of solar glass. Total imports rose from 29,980 metric tonnes (MT) in FY21 to 779,017 MT during the investigation period. Imports from China surged to 659,732 MT, up from 29,324 MT in FY21, while Vietnam’s exports jumped from 656 MT to 119,285 MT. In contrast, imports from other countries dropped significantly, indicating market displacement due to underpriced imports from the two named countries.

The move is expected to provide relief to domestic manufacturers who have been struggling to compete with heavily discounted imports. It also aligns with India’s push for self-reliance in solar manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and supports the domestic solar ecosystem as India ramps up capacity to meet its renewable energy targets.

In a related development, India also imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of Glufosinate (a broad-spectrum herbicide) and sodium citrate from China, highlighting a broader trend of defensive trade policy actions to safeguard Indian industry from predatory pricing by foreign players.