India Slaps Five-Year Anti-Dumping Duty on Solar Glass Imports from China, Vietnam

In a move to shield domestic manufacturers from the impact of cheap imports, the Ministry of Finance has imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty of up to USD 664 per metric tonne on imports of a specific category of solar glass from China and Vietnam.

The decision comes after a comprehensive investigation by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), the commerce ministry's investigative arm. DGTR found that imports of Textured Toughened (Tempered) Coated and Uncoated Glass, commonly referred to as solar glass, were being dumped into the Indian market at below fair value, causing material injury to domestic producers.

The duty will remain in effect for five years starting from December 4, 2024, the date on which provisional duties were initially enforced.

The affected product, known in the trade as Textured Toughened (Tempered) Coated and Uncoated Glass, is widely used in the solar industry and is critical in the manufacturing of photovoltaic (PV) modules.

Also referred to as solar glass, low-iron solar glass, and high-transmission photovoltaic glass, the product typically features a minimum light transmission of 90.5 percent, a thickness of up to 4.2 mm, and dimensions exceeding 1500 mm on at least one side. These specifications make it suitable for use in solar modules, where optical performance and durability are essential.

According to DGTR’s final findings issued on February 10, 2025, there has been a significant surge in the volume of such imports from the two countries, both in absolute terms and relative to Indian consumption. The investigation found that the imported glass was being sold at prices lower than its normal value, leading to undercutting of domestic prices and suppression of local industry profits. As a result, the authority recommended the imposition of an anti-dumping duty to level the playing field.

The duty structure follows a reference price mechanism, wherein duties will be applicable only if the landed value of the imported goods is below a set reference price. The difference between the landed value and the reference price will be collected as the anti-dumping duty. While specific exporters from both China and Vietnam have been assigned individual duty rates ranging between USD 570 and USD 642 per metric tonne, a general rate of USD 664 per metric tonne will apply to all other unnamed exporters.

The measure is expected to discourage the influx of unfairly priced imports and encourage more robust participation by domestic manufacturers, in line with India's broader push toward expanding domestic solar manufacturing capacity and achieving its renewable energy targets.

This decision is likely to be welcomed by Indian solar glass producers, many of whom have faced pricing pressure and loss of market share due to the continued influx of low-cost imports. As India ramps up its renewable energy ambitions, ensuring the health of its solar manufacturing ecosystem is seen as critical to achieving long-term energy security and self-reliance.