India imposes anti dumping duty on tempered glass

India has witnessed a major surge in the imports of textured tempered glass, which is used in solar panels, over the years. Observing this trend, the DGTR has imposed a 5-year anti-dumping duty on imports of this product from China and Vietnam.

India has imposed a five-year anti-dumping duty on imports of textured tempered glass—used in solar panels—from China and Vietnam. This decision follows an investigation by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), which found that imports of the product had surged significantly in recent years, adversely affecting domestic manufacturers.

The investigation began in February 2024 after a complaint filed by Borosil Renewables, India’s largest solar glass manufacturer, alongside four other domestic producers. The DGTR determined that imports were being dumped at below-market prices, harming the local industry. According to the report, total imports of solar glass rose dramatically from 29,980 metric tonnes (MT) in 2020–21 to 779,017 MT during the period of investigation (POI). Imports from China surged from 29,324 MT to 659,732 MT, while imports from Vietnam grew from 656 MT to 119,285 MT. In contrast, imports from other countries declined from 128,819 MT to 16,537 MT over the same period.

Based on DGTR’s findings, a provisional duty was imposed in December 2024. The final duty, now notified by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), will remain in place until December 2029. The duty will be calculated based on the difference between a government-set reference price and the landed price of the glass.

In a separate move, CBIC has also imposed five-year anti-dumping duties on Glufosinate and its salts, and sodium citrate, both imported from China. Glufosinate, a herbicide, will carry a duty of US$2,998 per MT. Sodium citrate, used in medicine, food processing, and labs, will face duties ranging from US$96.05 to US$152.78 per MT.

Tempered glass, commonly used in solar panels, protects photovoltaic cells and is textured to reduce reflections, enhancing solar module efficiency. Known for its superior performance over conventional glass, it is also referred to as Solar Glass, Low Iron Solar Glass, Solar PV Glass, High Transmission Photovoltaic Glass, and Tempered Low Iron Patterned Solar Glass.