India’s solar imports from China fell nearly 80%

Image Source: Pixabay

According to a recent analysis conducted by the energy think tank Ember, India’s imports of solar modules from China experienced a substantial decline of 76% year-on-year during the first half of 2023. In H1 2023, the country imported 2.3 GW of modules from China, a stark contrast to the 9.8 GW imported during the corresponding period in 2022.

This decline was primarily attributed to the imposition of tariffs, as India shifted its focus from imports to nurturing and utilizing its domestic manufacturing capacity.

The report highlights that India stands alone among nations in witnessing a significant decrease in PV panel imports from China. As India concentrated its efforts on promoting and giving priority to domestic solar manufacturing, Asia emerged as the sole region to experience reduced solar imports from China in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in the previous year.

The report also finds India is now the second largest importer of China-made solar cells after Türkiye.